Skills Development Network, a public charitable trust, registered in Bangalore, Karnataka and registered under Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 (hereinafter referred to as “Trust”, “we”, “our”, or “us” as the context may require) is committed to protecting the personal data of individuals who visits our website, engages with our programmes, supports our mission as donors, or participates in our research and initiatives.

This Privacy Notice explains how we collect, use, store, and secure your personal data in accordance with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDP Act) and other applicable laws in India. This Privacy Notice shall be read in conjunction with our Terms of Use.

1. 1. What Personal Data We Collect
      We collect only the personal data that is necessary for our charitable objectives, operations, and communications. This may include:
      
      1. Contact Details:Name, email address, phone number, and requirement message when you reach out to us, sign up for a newsletter, or register for an event.
      2. Donor Information: Name, PAN, address, and financial details necessary for processing contributions and issuing 80G tax-exemption receipts or complying with FCRA requirements.
      3. Programme & Research Data: Information provided if you participate in our skilling, education, entrepreneurship, or research initiatives (including impact assessments and technology/AI-driven learning platforms).
      4. Digital & Technical Data: IP address, browser type, device information, and cookies collected automatically when you browse our website to help us improve your experience.
         
         
   2. Purpose of Processing
      We use your personal data strictly for lawful and specified purposes, as per the following:
      
      • Education, Skilling & Capacity Building
      • Research, Innovation & Technology (including artificial intelligence)
      • Delivering entrepreneurship, education, mentoring, and skill development programs.
      • Supporting academic institutions and learning initiatives.
      • Organizing seminars, conferences, workshops, and other knowledge-sharing activities.
      • Conducting research, impact assessments, and innovation initiatives, including in artificial intelligence, for public benefit.
      • Collaborating with charitable institutions and other organizations to advance these objectives.
      • Fostering our charitable objectives (education, skilling, research, innovation, and capacity building).
      • Responding to your queries, feedback, or applications.
      • Managing donations, fulfilling statutory reporting obligations (such as Income Tax and FCRA filings), and issuing receipts.
      • Operating, analysing, and improving our website and digital platforms.
      • Complying with applicable laws, regulations, and legal processes.
        
        
   3. Lawful Basis & Consent
      We process your personal data based on:
      Your Consent: Given freely, specifically, and clearly when you visit our website, submit your details or agree to our cookies and communications. You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time by contacting us.
      Legitimate Uses & Legal Obligations: Where processing is required to comply with Indian laws (such as contract, tax, and labour laws) or for permissible and mutually agreed charitable operational needs.
      
   4. How We Secure Your Data
      We implement reasonable IT security safeguards, including technical, administrative, and physical controls to protect your personal data against unauthorized access, loss, disclosure, or alteration. Access to sensitive data is strictly restricted on a need-to-know basis.

      We will not sell, distribute or lease your personal information to third parties unless we have your permission or are required by law to do so. We may use your personal information to send you promotional information about third parties which we think you may find interesting if you tell us that you wish this to happen.

   5. Data Retention
      We retain your personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by applicable laws (such as financial audit and tax regulations under the Income-tax Act). Once no longer required, data is securely deleted or anonymized.
      
   6. Your Rights as a Data Principal
      Under the DPDP Act, you have the right to:
      Access: Request a summary of the personal data we hold about you.
      Correction & Completion: Ask us to correct inaccurate or update incomplete data.
      Erasure: Request the deletion of your personal data when it is no longer required (subject to statutory retention obligations).
      Grievance Redressal: Raise concerns or complaints regarding how your data is handled.
      Nomination: Nominate another person to exercise your rights in the event of death or incapacity.

      If you believe that any information, we are holding on you is incorrect or incomplete, please contact us with details. We will promptly correct any information found to be incorrect. From time to time, we may also use your information to contact you by email, phone or text message, to inform you about our pro bono activities.

   7. Contact Us
      If you have any questions, wish to exercise your rights, or want to withdraw your consent, please reach out to our designated data protection point of contact at:
      
      Email: legal@sdntrust.org
      Address: 1st Floor, Bhive Premium, 48, Church Street, Bengaluru-560001, Karnataka