Privacy Policy

DUPGS (“we”, “our”, or “us”) is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect when you use our platform at dupgs.com (the “Platform”), how we use that information, and the rights you have over your data.

This policy applies to all visitors and users of DUPGS — including students searching for PG accommodation, parents, PG owners submitting listings, and partners. By using DUPGS, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.

Who We Are and How to Reach Us

DUPGS is a PG discovery platform that helps students find accommodation near Delhi University colleges. We are the data controller responsible for the personal information collected on this platform.

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, or if you wish to exercise any of your rights over your data, please contact us via our contact page. We aim to respond to all privacy-related requests within 30 days.

What Information We Collect

We collect information in the following ways, depending on how you interact with DUPGS:

Information you give us directly

• Contact form submissions — when you fill out our contact, partnership, careers, or listing form, we collect your name, email address, phone number, and the content of your message or enquiry. For listing submissions, we may also collect property details and contact information of the PG owner or manager.
• Newsletter subscription — when you subscribe to our email updates, we collect your email address. No other information is required.
• PG listing content — PG owners submitting listings provide property details including location, rent, amenities, and contact information. This is publicly displayed on the platform as part of the listing.

Information collected automatically

• Device and browser data — when you visit DUPGS, we automatically collect your browser type, operating system, device type, and general geographic location (city-level, based on your IP address).
• Usage data — we collect information about which pages you visit, which filters and searches you use, how long you spend on pages, and how you arrived at the platform (e.g., Google search, direct URL, referral link). This helps us understand what content is most useful.
• Cookies — see the Cookies & Tracking section below for full details on how we use cookies.

We do not collect sensitive personal data such as government IDs, financial account details, or health information unless you voluntarily provide them in a form submission (e.g., within the message content of a contact form).

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• To respond to your enquiries, listing submissions, and support requests
• To display PG listings and related content on the platform
• To send newsletter and update emails if you have subscribed (you can unsubscribe at any time)
• To understand how users navigate and use DUPGS, so we can improve the platform
• To detect and prevent fraud, platform abuse, and technical security threats
• To maintain the integrity of our listing database by processing and reviewing user-submitted content
• To comply with our legal obligations

Legal Basis for Processing

Under India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (“DPDPA”), we process your personal information on the following legal bases:

• Consent — when you submit a form, subscribe to our newsletter, or voluntarily provide information, you consent to our collection and use of that information for the stated purpose.
• Legitimate interest — we process certain usage and device data to maintain platform security, detect abuse, and improve our service. This processing is limited to what is necessary and does not override your rights or freedoms.
• Legal obligation — we may retain and disclose information where required by applicable Indian law or to comply with a valid legal request.

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

DUPGS uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to operate the platform and understand how visitors use it. Here is what we use and why:

• Essential cookies — these are required for the platform to function. They include session cookies that keep you logged in, security cookies that protect against unauthorised access, and cookies that remember your search preferences and filters. You cannot opt out of essential cookies.
• Analytics cookies — we use analytics tools to understand how visitors use DUPGS — which pages are most visited, which college and area searches are most common, and where users drop off. This data is aggregated and anonymous. We use this to make product decisions, not to track individual users across the web.
• Newsletter cookies — if you subscribe to our email updates, we may use tracking (such as open rates) to understand whether our emails are useful. This data is used in aggregate only.

Most web browsers allow you to manage cookie preferences through browser settings. Blocking analytics cookies will not prevent you from using DUPGS, but it may limit our ability to understand and improve the platform based on aggregate usage data.

Sharing Your Information

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to any third party for marketing purposes. We may share your information in the following limited circumstances:

• With PG owners — when you submit a contact or enquiry form about a specific listing, your message content and contact details are shared with the relevant PG owner so they can respond to you directly.
• With service providers — we use third-party service providers for hosting, analytics, and email delivery (such as Vercel for hosting, and email delivery services for newsletters). These providers are contractually required to handle your data securely and only for the purpose we specify.
• Legal compliance — we will disclose information if required to do so by law, court order, or a valid regulatory or government request in India.

Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes described in this policy:

• Form submissions and enquiries — retained for up to 2 years from the date of submission, or until you request deletion, whichever is earlier.
• Newsletter subscriptions — retained until you unsubscribe. After unsubscription, your email address is deleted within 30 days.
• PG listings — retained as long as the listing is active on the platform. Outdated or inactive listings are reviewed and removed periodically.
• Analytics data — aggregated and anonymised analytics data may be retained indefinitely for historical comparison purposes.

Data Security

We take reasonable steps to protect your personal information from unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. Our platform is hosted on secure infrastructure, uses HTTPS encryption for all data transmission, and implements access controls on systems that store user data.

No method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your data, we cannot guarantee absolute security. You can help by using strong passwords, keeping your login credentials private, and contacting us immediately if you suspect any unauthorised access to your information.

Your Rights

Under India's DPDPA, you have the following rights over your personal information:

• Right to access — you can request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
• Right to correction — if you believe any information we hold about you is inaccurate or incomplete, you can request a correction.
• Right to deletion — you can request that we delete your personal information from our systems, subject to any legal retention obligations. To unsubscribe from our newsletter, use the unsubscribe link in any email or contact us via our contact page.
• Right to withdraw consent — where our processing of your data is based on consent, you can withdraw that consent at any time by contacting us.
• Right to raise a grievance — if you have a concern about how we are handling your data, you have the right to raise a grievance with us. We aim to resolve all grievances within 30 days.

To exercise any of these rights, please use our contact page with the subject line “Privacy Rights Request”. We may ask you to verify your identity before processing your request.

Children's Privacy

DUPGS is not directed at, or intended for use by, children under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18. If you believe a child has submitted personal information through our platform, please contact us immediately using our contact page and we will take steps to remove that information promptly.

Links to Third-Party Sites

DUPGS may contain links to external websites — for example, the Delhi Metro app, DU admission portal, or other third-party resources. These sites have their own privacy policies and data practices. We encourage you to read the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of any linked sites.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal obligations. When we make material changes, we will update the “Last updated” date at the top of this page and, where appropriate, notify you through the platform or by email.

We encourage you to review this page periodically. Your continued use of DUPGS after any changes to this policy means you accept the updated terms.

Contact

If you have questions, concerns, or requests related to this Privacy Policy or your personal data, please reach out to us via our contact page. Select the “General Enquiry” or “Platform Feedback” category and include “Privacy” in your subject line so we can route your message to the right person quickly.