How we handle your information.

Last updated: 26 August 2026. This policy covers Aarohan Scholarships, an initiative of Vertis Trust Infrastructure implemented by Tarq Foundation.

Draft, pending legal review. This policy was drafted to describe what the platform actually collects and how it is actually handled, in plain language. It has not been reviewed by counsel and should not be published or relied upon before that review, particularly for the sections on data retention, grievance redressal, and regulatory basis (India's DPDP Act, 2023).

What we collect

When you apply, we collect the information the application form asks for: your name, date of birth, gender, contact details, address, academic records, family income and household details, a personal statement, a referee's contact details, and bank account details for disbursement. We also collect the documents you upload (photograph, identity proof, marksheets, income proof, and similar).

We automatically record technical information needed to operate and secure the platform: IP address and browser user-agent on submission (for audit and fraud prevention), and timestamps of key actions.

How we use it

To assess eligibility and process your scholarship application.
To verify the documents and details you provide with your institution, bank, or issuing authorities.
To disburse funds, if selected, and to monitor continuation criteria afterward.
To contact you about the status of your application.
To maintain an audit trail of who reviewed or changed an application, and when.

Bank details

Only the last four digits of your account number are ever stored in a form anyone can read. The full account number is encrypted before it is stored, and only decrypted programmatically at the point of disbursement.

Where your data lives

Application data and documents are stored with our infrastructure provider in servers located in India (Mumbai region), consistent with the data residency expectations of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.

Who can see it

Your application is visible to authorised reviewers, finance staff, and administrators of the Aarohan programme. It is not sold, and it is not shared with third parties except where necessary to verify your details (e.g., with your listed institution) or where required by law.

Cookies

We use a strictly necessary cookie to keep you signed in; this does not require consent under applicable law. If we introduce analytics cookies, the cookie banner on this site will let you accept or decline them separately.

Your rights

You may ask us what data we hold about you, ask us to correct it, or ask us to erase it (subject to our obligation to retain records connected to an active or awarded scholarship). To exercise any of these, write to aarohan.connect@tarq.org.

Retention

The retention period for rejected and unsuccessful applications has not yet been fixed. This is one of the open questions from the programme's planning document and needs a decision before this section can be finalised.

Contact

Questions about this policy: aarohan.connect@tarq.org.