Privacy Policy & Data Protection

Last Updated: September 1, 2026 | Version: v1.0

Himachali Match ("we", "us", "our") is committed to protecting the privacy of our users. This Privacy Policy explains what personal data we collect, how we use and safeguard it, and the choices and rights you have, in line with the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023 and the Information Technology Act, 2000.

1. Information We Collect - **Account data:** Mobile number (verified via OTP), and, if you choose to set one, an MPIN for faster login on a trusted device. - **Profile data:** Name, gender, date of birth, height, marital status, education, profession, district/community/dialect, family details, bio, partner preferences, and (optionally) horoscope/Kundli details (birth time, birthplace, coordinates) if you choose to add them for horoscope matching. - **Verification data:** A government ID image, if you voluntarily submit one for identity verification. This is reviewed by our moderation team and stored securely; only a masked reference (e.g. last 4 digits) is ever shown elsewhere in the product. - **Photos:** Profile photographs, stored in encrypted cloud storage and served only via time-limited signed URLs — never as permanently public file links. - **Usage data:** Basic activity signals (e.g. last-active time, app version, device identifiers for push notifications) needed to operate and secure the service.

2. How We Use Your Information - To create and display your profile to other candidates, according to your own visibility and privacy settings. - To power discovery, daily recommendations, and (where you supply birth details) Kundli/horoscope compatibility scoring. - To process subscription payments and communicate service, security, and support-related messages via SMS/WhatsApp/push notification, based on your notification preferences. - To moderate content, investigate reports, and enforce our Terms and Community Guidelines.

3. Your Privacy & Visibility Controls - **Photo visibility:** You control who can see your photos through in-app privacy settings. - **Phone number masking:** Your phone number is never shown in search or on your profile. It is visible only to members on a paid plan, who can unlock it, within their plan's limit, to contact you. There is no separate setting to hide it from paid members. A paid member whose own profile is not published cannot see any number. - **Stealth mode:** Where available on your plan, you can browse profiles without appearing in the "who viewed you" list of the profiles you view. - **Horoscope details:** Kept private and used only for compatibility scoring, unless you choose to display them on your profile.

4. Sharing & Disclosure We do not sell your personal data. We share it only: - With other users, to the extent your own visibility settings allow, as a core part of how the Platform works. - With service providers who process data on our behalf under contract (e.g. cloud storage, SMS/WhatsApp delivery, payment processing) — solely to provide the service, not for their own marketing. - Where required by law, court order, or a lawful request from a government authority.

5. Data Security We apply reasonable technical and organizational safeguards — encrypted storage, access controls, and signed/time-limited URLs for photos and documents — to protect your data against unauthorized access, alteration, or disclosure. No online service can guarantee absolute security, and we encourage you to also protect your own account (keep your device and MPIN secure, and report any suspicious activity to us promptly).

6. Data Retention & Deletion We retain your data for as long as your account is active, or as needed to comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. You may request deletion of your account and associated personal data at any time via the app's Settings, or by emailing us — see Section 8.

7. Your Rights Under the DPDP Act, 2023, you have the right to: - Access the personal data we hold about you. - Correct or update inaccurate or incomplete data. - Withdraw consent and request erasure of your data, subject to any legal retention requirements. - Raise a grievance regarding how your data is handled (see our Contact Us & Grievance Officer Disclosures page).

8. Contact For any privacy-related question, correction request, or data deletion request, email **support@himachalimatch.com** or use the in-app Help & Support chat.

9. Changes to This Policy We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices or applicable law. Material changes will be highlighted in the app.