Privacy notice
This notice explains how Swayam Community processes personal data as a Data Fiduciary under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 and the Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025.
1. Who we are
Swayam Community is the community programme of Swayam, operated from India. For this notice, Swayam Community is the Data Fiduciary. The website is operated at swayam.community.
Registered office: India. The full registered office address is available on request at legal@swayam.community and will be published on the Grievance page when updated.
For personal data requests, write to privacy@swayam.community. For grievances, write to grievance@swayam.community.
2. Scope
This notice applies to personal data processed when you visit this website, apply to a program, express interest as an expert, write to us, or otherwise take part in Swayam Community.
It does not apply to third-party websites or tools that we do not control, including application hosts that display their own notices. Where a third-party notice also applies, you should read that notice as well.
3. Personal data we process
We process only what is needed for the purpose stated at the time of collection, or a purpose that a reasonable person would expect in the circumstances. Depending on how you interact with us, this may include:
- Identity and contact data: name, email address, location, and similar details you provide.
- Application data: background, work, links, and answers you submit when applying to a program.
- Participation data: messages, work you choose to share in a program, attendance, and feedback.
- Expert contribution data: if you apply to contribute time, the information you give about your practice and availability.
- Technical data: IP address, device and browser type, pages viewed, referring URL, and approximate time of visit, as generated by the website and hosting environment.
- Correspondence: emails and other messages you send to the addresses published on this website.
4. Purpose of processing
Swayam Community processes personal data for these purposes:
- To operate this website and keep it secure.
- To receive and review applications for programs, including the Founder Cohort.
- To communicate about applications, programs, sessions, and community participation.
- To run programs and related community activity, including expert contribution.
- To respond to questions, rights requests, and grievances.
- To meet legal duties under Indian law, including the DPDP Act, 2023 and the Information Technology Act, 2000.
- To keep records that we are required or permitted to keep, including records of consent and grievances.
5. Lawful basis under the DPDP Act
Where the DPDP Act requires consent, we ask for it before processing, in a manner that states the purpose. Submitting an application form, sending email to a published address, or continuing after a clear notice may constitute consent for the purpose described at that point.
Where the DPDP Act permits processing as a legitimate use, we may process personal data without additional consent, including to comply with law, to respond to medical emergencies as defined in the Act, to perform a function under law, or for purposes for which you have voluntarily provided data and have not indicated that you do not consent to the use.
You may withdraw consent for consent-based processing by writing to privacy@swayam.community. Withdrawal does not affect processing already completed, or processing that we must continue under law or another legitimate use.
6. How we collect data
We collect data that you give us, data generated by your use of the website, and data that a processor collects on our behalf for a stated purpose.
Swayam Community has more than one program. Applications are received through forms we publish on this website, including on program pages. Those forms may be hosted by third-party processors. The processors we may use include Airtable, Zoho, and other form, CRM, email, or similar tools we appoint from time to time.
Each such processor acts as a processor / data intermediary for the form it hosts. That processor's own terms and privacy notice also apply to the submission. Use only an application form published by Swayam Community for the relevant program.
8. Cross-border processing
Some processors may store or access personal data outside India. Application forms hosted by Airtable, Zoho, or similar tools may be processed on infrastructure outside India.
Under the DPDP Act, 2023, personal data may be transferred outside India except to a country or territory that the Central Government notifies as restricted. We will not transfer personal data to a restricted territory if such a notification applies.
If a transfer is made, we take reasonable steps so that the processor handles the data only for our stated purpose and with reasonable security safeguards.
9. Retention
We keep personal data only for as long as needed for the purpose for which it was collected, or as required or permitted by law.
Application records are kept for the application cycle and for a reasonable period after it, so that we can run the program, handle questions, and meet legal duties. If you are not admitted, we do not keep application data longer than needed for those purposes.
When the purpose is complete and no legal duty requires us to keep the data, we erase it or make it no longer identifiable, as far as reasonably possible.
10. Security safeguards
We implement reasonable security safeguards to prevent personal data breach, including access control, limited sharing, and use of processors who provide contractual and technical safeguards appropriate to the data.
No method of transmission or storage is completely secure. If a personal data breach is likely to affect you, we will take the steps required under the DPDP Act and applicable rules, including intimation where required.
11. Your rights as a Data Principal
Subject to the DPDP Act, 2023 and the Rules, you may:
- Ask whether we process your personal data, and for a summary of that data and the processing activities.
- Ask for correction, completion, or updating of your personal data.
- Ask for erasure of your personal data, unless retention is required for the purpose, for legal compliance, or for another permitted ground.
- Nominate another individual to exercise your rights in the event of death or incapacity, in the manner prescribed.
- Withdraw consent for consent-based processing.
- Have a grievance redressed in the manner described in the Grievance redressal policy.
12. How to exercise your rights
Write to privacy@swayam.community from the email address we hold for you, where possible, and state the right you wish to exercise. We may need to verify your identity before we act.
We will respond within a reasonable period, and in any case within the time required by applicable law. If we cannot complete a request, we will say so and give the reason, subject to law.
If you are not satisfied, you may write to the Grievance Officer at grievance@swayam.community. You may also approach the Data Protection Board of India in the manner prescribed under the DPDP Act.
13. Children and persons with disability
Swayam Community programs are intended for adults. Do not apply or submit personal data if you are under 18 years of age.
We do not knowingly process personal data of a child (a person under 18) or of a person with disability who has a lawful guardian, except with verifiable consent of the parent or lawful guardian, and not for tracking, behavioural monitoring, or targeted advertising, as restricted under the DPDP Act.
If we learn that we have collected such data without the required consent, we will erase it as required.
15. Automated decisions
Admission to a program and expert contribution are reviewed by people. We do not make solely automated decisions that determine participation without human review.
16. Changes to this notice
This notice is effective from 19 August 2026. We may update it as programs, processors, or the law change. The updated notice will be posted on this page with a new effective date. Material changes will be presented in a manner reasonably likely to come to your attention if you have an ongoing relationship with us.
17. Contact
Data Fiduciary: Swayam Community.
Privacy: privacy@swayam.community.
Grievance Officer: Designated Grievance Officer, Swayam Community, grievance@swayam.community.
Legal notices: legal@swayam.community.
See also Legal and compliance · Privacy notice · Grievance redressal.