privacy_policy_GarudPuran

1.Introduction and consent

This Privacy Policy explains how Garud Puran Gujarati (the "App") collects, uses, shares and protects information when you use the App on Android. The App is published on Google Play by Vinviter, the developer account of Ankitbhai Jayantibhai Patel, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India ("we", "us" or "our").

The App is a devotional and educational app about the Garuda Purana, in English and Gujarati. It offers stories (katha) to read and listen to, shlokas, a 16-day journey, questions and answers, popular stories with audio and video, short reels, meditation and breathing sessions, a jaap (mantra) counter, and optional daily reminders.

By installing or using the App you agree to this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the App. Our Terms & Conditions also apply.

2.Information we collect

You do not need to create an account, sign in, or give us your name, email address or phone number to use the App.

2(a) Information you choose to give us

Ratings and feedback. If you rate the App inside the App, we receive the star rating and any comment you type, linked to your App user ID.
Search text. Words you type into the story search are sent to our server to find matching stories.
Favourites, likes and shares. When you favourite a story, like a reel or share a reel, that action is saved on our server against your App user ID.
Support messages. If you email us or message us on WhatsApp from the Settings screen, we receive your email address or phone number and whatever you write to us.
Mantra recordings. If you record your own mantra in the Jaap Counter, or pick an audio file from your phone, that audio stays on your device. It is not uploaded to us.

2(b) Information collected automatically

Device identifier. The App reads your device's Android ID and sends it to our server, which gives back a numeric App user ID. This is how the App recognises the same installation and keeps your favourites and progress without an account.
App and language details. App version, the app and content language you chose (English or Gujarati), and install referrer information if available.
Reading, listening and viewing activity. Progress in popular stories (percentage read, listened or watched, and last audio position) and reel watch history (how much of a reel you watched and whether you finished it).
Premium status. Whether you hold an active Premium plan and until when, so the App can switch ads off.
In-app usage events. Through Google Firebase Analytics we record which screens you open and which buttons or tiles you tap (for example, "Stories tab" or "Jaap Counter tile"), together with standard device information such as device model, Android version, country (from IP address), and an app-instance ID.
Crash and error reports. If the App crashes or hits an error, Firebase Crashlytics and our own server receive technical details such as the error message, stack trace, screen name, device model, Android version and your App user ID.
Advertising data. If you use the free version, Google AdMob collects the Advertising ID, IP address and ad interaction data to show and measure ads. See Section 6.
Network data. Like any internet service, our servers and content delivery providers see your IP address when the App downloads content.

2(c) Information stored only on your device

Reading position, "continue reading" state, bookmarks and chant counts.
Theme (light/dark), font size, language and reminder time and sound.
Cached images, audio and video used for smoother or offline playback.
Your custom mantra recordings and imported audio files.

2(d) What we do NOT collect

No precise or approximate GPS location.
No contacts, call logs, SMS, calendar or camera access.
No photos or files from your gallery are uploaded. Downloading a reel only saves a copy to your phone.
No passwords and no payment card, UPI or bank details (Google Play handles payments).
No voice recordings are sent to our servers.

3.App permissions

Android asks for your approval before the App can use the microphone or show notifications. You can refuse or later turn off any of these in Settings > Apps > Garud Puran Gujarati > Permissions. The rest of the App keeps working.

Permission	Why the App uses it
Microphone `RECORD_AUDIO`	Only in the Jaap Counter: (1) Voice Jaap listens while you chant and counts each mantra; (2) Record Mantra lets you record your own chant to play back. The microphone is used only while you have started one of these features. Speech is processed by your phone's speech recognition service (see Section 5); recordings are kept only on your device.
Notifications `POST_NOTIFICATIONS` (Android 13+)	To show the audio player controls in the notification bar and on the lock screen, and the optional daily reminder you switch on.
Storage (Android 7–9 only) `WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE`	To save a reel you choose to download into your Pictures or Movies folder. On Android 10 and newer no storage permission is used.
Advertising ID `AD_ID`	Added by the Google Mobile Ads SDK so AdMob can show and measure ads. You can reset or delete this ID in your phone's settings (see Section 6).
Run at start-up `RECEIVE_BOOT_COMPLETED`	To re-schedule your daily reminder after the phone restarts. Nothing is collected.
Foreground service (media playback), wake lock `FOREGROUND_SERVICE`, `FOREGROUND_SERVICE_MEDIA_PLAYBACK`, `WAKE_LOCK`	To keep a story, shloka or meditation audio playing when the screen is off or you switch to another app.
Internet and network state `INTERNET`, `ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE`	To download stories, audio, video, reels and ads, and to check whether you are online.
Google Play Billing `BILLING`	To let you buy Garud Premium (ad-free) through Google Play.

When you import an audio file for the Jaap Counter, Android's system picker gives the App access to that one file only.

4.How we use information

To run the App and deliver content in your chosen language.
To remember your favourites, likes, reading and listening progress across sessions.
To show the right content feed and search results.
To know whether you have Premium, so ads are switched off for you.
To show ads in the free version, which pays for the content.
To understand which features are used, so we can improve them.
To find and fix crashes and errors.
To read and reply to your feedback and support messages.
To send the playback notification and the daily reminder you switched on (these are created on your device).
To follow the law and protect the App and its users from misuse.

We do not sell your personal data. We do not rent it out or share it with data brokers.

5.Third-party services

The App uses the services below. Each one handles data under its own privacy policy.

Service	Purpose	Privacy policy
Google AdMob (Google Mobile Ads SDK)	Banner, full-screen (interstitial), app-open and rewarded video ads in the free version	policies.google.com/technologies/ads
Google Firebase Analytics	Counting screens opened and buttons tapped	firebase.google.com/support/privacy
Google Firebase Crashlytics	Crash reports	firebase.google.com/support/privacy
Google Play Billing	Buying and restoring Garud Premium	Google Payments Privacy Notice
Your phone's speech recognition service (usually Google)	Hearing and counting chants in Voice Jaap	policies.google.com/privacy
Our API and content servers (`garudpuranapi.vinvite.in`, `purandata.vinvite.in`, `bibledata.reelstori.com`)	App data (user ID, favourites, progress, feedback, error logs) and content delivery (text, images, audio, video)	This policy
WhatsApp and your email app	Only if you tap "WhatsApp us" or "Email us" in Settings	WhatsApp Privacy Policy

The App also includes open-source libraries that run only on your device and do not send data to their authors: AndroidX, Media3/ExoPlayer, Retrofit, OkHttp, Gson, Glide and Lottie.

6.Advertising

The free version shows ads from Google AdMob: banner ads, full-screen ads between screens, an ad when the App opens, and rewarded video ads that you choose to watch (for example, to download a reel). Buying Garud Premium removes all ads.

To show and measure ads, Google may collect your device's Advertising ID, IP address, device and app information, and how you interact with ads. Google may use this to show personalised ads based on your interests. Learn more at How Google uses information from apps that use its services.

How to limit personalised ads

Android 12 and newer: Settings > Privacy > Ads > Delete advertising ID.
Older Android: Settings > Google > Ads > Opt out of Ads Personalisation (or Reset advertising ID).
Manage your Google ad settings at adssettings.google.com.

You will still see ads after opting out, but they will be less related to your interests.

Users in the EEA, UK and Switzerland: where the law requires consent for personalised ads, Google shows personalised ads only when a valid consent has been given; otherwise only non-personalised or limited ads are shown. You can also limit ad personalisation at any time using the steps above.

7.Payments and Premium

Garud Premium is an optional purchase that removes ads. It is offered as a monthly subscription, a yearly subscription, or a one-time lifetime purchase. All stories, shlokas and other content remain free.

All payments are processed by Google Play. We never see or store your card, UPI, net-banking or wallet details.
We receive only the purchase status from Google Play (which plan, whether it is active, purchase token and dates), so we can switch ads off.
Subscriptions renew automatically until cancelled in the Play Store. Refunds follow the refund section of our Terms & Conditions and the Google Play refund policy.

9.Data retention

Data	How long we keep it
App user ID, Android ID, language and app version	While you use the App, and for up to 24 months after your last use; deleted earlier on request
Favourites, likes, shares, story progress, reel watch history	While you use the App, and for up to 24 months after your last use; deleted earlier on request
Ratings and feedback comments	Up to 24 months
Error logs sent to our server	Up to 90 days
Firebase Analytics events	Up to 14 months (Firebase retention setting)
Firebase Crashlytics crash reports	Up to 90 days
Support emails and WhatsApp messages	Up to 24 months after the conversation ends
Advertising data	As set by Google in its own policies
Data stored only on your device	Until you clear the App's data or uninstall the App

10.Data deletion

The App has no user accounts, so there is no account to close. You can still ask us to delete all data linked to your installation.

Delete data stored on your phone

Go to Settings > Apps > Garud Puran Gujarati > Storage > Clear data, or uninstall the App. This removes your progress, preferences, cached files and mantra recordings.

Delete data stored on our server

Email jackybharwad007@gmail.com with the subject "Data Deletion Request – Garud Puran Gujarati".
If you can, include your App user ID or device details (Settings screen of the App, or your phone model). This helps us find your records. Please do not send passwords or payment details.
We will confirm your request and delete your App user ID, favourites, likes, progress, watch history, feedback and error logs from our server within 30 days.

What may be kept: records we must keep by law (for example, purchase and tax records, which Google Play holds for Premium purchases), and anonymised totals that no longer identify you. Copies in our backups are overwritten within a further 30 days.

To delete analytics data held by Google for your device, you can also reset your Advertising ID and clear the App's data, which starts a new Firebase app-instance ID.

11.Data security

All communication between the App and our servers uses encrypted HTTPS connections, and API responses are additionally encrypted. Identifiers and preferences are stored in the App's private storage, which other apps cannot read. Access to our servers is limited to people who need it to run the App.

No method of sending or storing data over the internet is 100% secure. We work hard to protect your information but cannot guarantee absolute security.

12.Your rights

Depending on where you live, you have some or all of the rights below. To use any of them, email jackybharwad007@gmail.com. We will reply within 30 days and will not treat you differently for using your rights.

India – Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023

Get a summary of the personal data we process and who we share it with.
Correct, complete, update or erase your personal data.
Withdraw consent at any time (this does not affect processing done before you withdrew).
Nominate another person to act for you in case of death or incapacity.
Raise a grievance with us, and if not resolved, complain to the Data Protection Board of India.

EU / UK – GDPR

Access, correct or erase your data; restrict or object to processing; data portability.
Withdraw consent (for example, to personalised ads) at any time.
Complain to your local data protection authority.

Our legal bases are: performance of a contract (providing the App and Premium), legitimate interests (security, crash fixing, basic analytics and non-personalised ads), and consent (personalised ads, microphone use, notifications).

California – CCPA / CPRA

Know what personal information we collect, use and disclose, and ask for a copy.
Delete or correct your personal information.
Opt out of the "sale" or "sharing" of personal information for cross-context behavioural advertising. We do not sell personal information for money; ad-related sharing with Google can be limited using the steps in Section 6.
Non-discrimination for using these rights.

13.Children's privacy

The App's content is suitable for a general audience, but the App is not directed at children under 13 (or the minimum age in your country) and it shows ads. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. Children should use the App only with a parent or guardian.

If you believe a child has given us personal information, email jackybharwad007@gmail.com and we will delete it.

14.International data transfers

We are based in India. Our servers, and those of Google and our other providers, may be located in India, the United States or other countries. Your information may therefore be processed outside your country, where data protection laws may differ. Where required, we rely on appropriate safeguards such as the standard contractual clauses used by Google.

15.Links to other sites

The App contains links to our website, the Google Play Store, WhatsApp and ads from third parties. We do not control these sites or apps and are not responsible for their content or privacy practices. Please read their privacy policies.

16.Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time, for example when we add features or when the law changes. We will change the effective date at the top and, for important changes, tell you in the App or on the Play Store listing. Continuing to use the App after a change means you accept the updated policy.

17.Contact us

For questions, complaints or requests about your privacy (including as our grievance officer under Indian law), contact:

Vinviter – Garud Puran Gujarati

Developer: Ankitbhai Jayantibhai Patel (Vinviter)
Email: jackybharwad007@gmail.com
Website: garudpuran.vinvite.in
Address: 25 Ameedhara Co-op Housing Society, Near Bethlem Society, Bhaipura, Maninagar East, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380008, India
Terms: Terms & Conditions

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