1. Introduction

Welcome to TiCi Nature Academy ("we", "us", "our"), a division of TiCi NatureLab, operating the website https://ticinatureacademy.org and our workshop registration portal (collectively, the "Website"). We provide courses, workshops, and training programs in aquascaping, aquatic ecosystem design, terrarium and paludarium building, and related nature sciences.

We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting the personal data you share with us when you browse our Website, enquire about a course or workshop, register for a paid workshop, or contact us through any form, advertisement, or communication channel. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, why we collect it, how we use and protect it, and what rights you have over it.

By using our Website or submitting your details to us, you agree to the practices described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use our Website or submit your information to us.

2. Information We Collect

We may collect the following categories of information:

• Contact and identity details: full name, phone number, email address, city/location
• Enquiry and enrolment details: educational qualification, profession, course or workshop of interest, preferred batch/day(s), and any message you submit through our enquiry or registration forms
• Payment-related details: when you pay a course or workshop fee, payment is processed by our third-party payment gateway/processor. We do not store your full card, UPI, or net-banking credentials on our own servers — we retain only the transaction reference, amount paid, and payment status needed for our accounting and to confirm your seat
• Communications: records of calls, WhatsApp messages, or emails exchanged with our team regarding your enquiry or enrolment
• Non-personal / technical information: browser type, device type, approximate location, pages visited, referring website, and general usage patterns, collected automatically via cookies and analytics tools

3. How We Collect Information

We collect information when you:

• Fill out an enquiry, contact, or "Get Course Details" form on our Website
• Register for a paid workshop through our registration portal
• Submit your details through a Facebook or Instagram Lead Ad
• Contact us directly via phone, email, or WhatsApp
• Interact with our Website in a way that generates automatic technical data (e.g. via Google Analytics or the Meta Pixel installed on our Website)

4. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Respond to your enquiries and share details about our courses and workshops (including fees, schedules, curriculum, and admission process)
• Process and confirm your registration and payment for a paid workshop or course
• Contact you via phone, email, or WhatsApp regarding your enquiry, registration, or an upcoming batch/workshop you have registered for
• Send you reminders, logistics information, or updates related to a workshop or course you have registered for
• Improve our Website, course content, and workshop experience
• Maintain records required for accounting, tax, and legal compliance
• Measure and improve the performance of our advertising campaigns (Meta/Google) in an aggregated, non-identifying manner where possible

We do not sell or rent your personal information to third parties for their own marketing purposes.

5. Advertising, Analytics, and Cookies

Our Website uses the following third-party tools, which may set cookies or collect technical data on their own terms:

• Meta Pixel (Facebook/Instagram): used to measure the effectiveness of our advertising and to build audiences for future campaigns. Meta processes this data in accordance with its own Privacy Policy.
• Google Analytics: used to understand how visitors use our Website, in order to improve it.
• Facebook & Instagram Lead Ads: if you submit your details through a lead form on Facebook or Instagram, that information is shared with us directly by Meta for the purpose of following up on your enquiry.

You can control or disable cookies through your browser settings at any time. Disabling cookies may affect some functionality of the Website but will not prevent you from browsing our course and workshop information.

6. Sharing of Information

We do not share your personal data with third parties, except:

• With our payment gateway/processor, solely to process your course or workshop payment
• With trusted service providers who help us operate our Website, communications, or record-keeping (e.g. hosting providers, email/WhatsApp communication tools), under confidentiality obligations
• When required to do so by law, regulation, court order, or a lawful request from a government authority
• As necessary to process your admission, verify your identity for a workshop, or protect the rights, property, or safety of TiCi Nature Academy, our students, or others

7. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes described in this Policy, including maintaining enrolment and payment records for accounting and legal purposes, and responding to any dispute or regulatory requirement. Where information is no longer needed, we take reasonable steps to delete or anonymise it.

8. Data Security

We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information from unauthorised access, misuse, alteration, loss, or disclosure. However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

9. Your Rights

Subject to applicable law, you may:

• Request access to the personal data we hold about you
• Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data
• Request erasure of your personal data, subject to our legitimate need to retain certain records (e.g. payment and accounting records) for legal purposes
• Withdraw any consent you have previously given, where processing is based on consent — noting that this may affect our ability to process an ongoing enquiry, registration, or refund request
• Lodge a grievance with our Grievance Officer (see Section 11) if you believe your data has been misused

10. Children's Information

Our courses and workshops are generally intended for adults and students above the age of 16. Where a minor registers for a workshop or course with the involvement and consent of a parent or guardian, the parent/guardian is responsible for providing accurate information and for consenting to this Privacy Policy on the minor's behalf.

11. Grievance Officer / Contact Information

In accordance with applicable Indian law, including the Information Technology Act, 2000 and rules made thereunder, and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (as its provisions come into force), any questions, concerns, or complaints regarding this Privacy Policy or the handling of your personal data may be directed to:

TiCi Nature Academy
Grievance Officer: [Name to be added]
Address: Satashi, Kathaltala, near Azad Hind Sangha Durga Mandir, Howrah, West Bengal 711112
Email: academy@ticilifescience.com
Phone: +91 99032 43299
Website: https://ticinatureacademy.org

We aim to acknowledge and address genuine grievances within a reasonable time frame, in line with applicable law.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, our services, or applicable law. Material changes will be posted on this page along with an updated "Last Updated" date. We encourage you to review this page periodically.