Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy applies to The Chakra Android mobile application (available on Google Play) and the web platform at thechakra.co.in, operated by The Chakra Automotive Technologies Private Limited.
Introduction & Overview
Welcome to The Chakra, owned and operated by The Chakra Automotive Technologies Private Limited ("The Chakra", "we", "us", or "our"). We are committed to safeguarding the privacy and security of users ("you", "your") who use our mobile application (the "App") on Google Play or our website (https://thechakra.co.in).
This Privacy Policy explains what personal data we collect, why we collect it, how it is handled, your rights under applicable data protection laws including the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDP Act) and the Information Technology Act, 2000, and how we comply with the Google Play Developer Program Policies (User Data Policy).
Information We Collect
We collect information that you directly provide to us, information collected automatically through your device when using our app, and information collected from third-party services with your explicit consent:
Full name, mobile telephone number, email address, profile avatar, and account login credentials. Mobile numbers are verified via One-Time Password (OTP).
Vehicle Registration Certificate (RC) number, make, model, variant, year of manufacture, odometer reading, fuel type, ownership status, chassis/engine serials, and inspection details.
Approximate (city/region) or precise GPS location (only when permission is explicitly granted) to show used cars for sale nearby, discover verified local dealers, and calculate travel distance for test drives.
Vehicle photos and documentation (RC copy, insurance papers, NOC) captured or selected from your device when listing a car for sale, evaluating a vehicle, or submitting dealer inventory.
Income bracket, employment classification, preferred loan tenure, and chosen banking partners for auto-loan pre-qualification. Payment processing is tokenized through PCI-DSS certified gateways (Razorpay). We never store raw card numbers, CVVs, or UPI PINs.
Device model, operating system version, unique device identifiers (Android ID), IP address, crash analytics, network connection status, and app performance logs to diagnose technical issues and ensure stability.
Mobile App Permissions (Android)
In accordance with Google Play Developer Policy, our Android application only requests permissions that are strictly necessary to deliver core vehicle marketplace features. These permissions are requested at runtime with clear context:
| Android Permission | Category | Operational Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION / ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION | Location | To display car listings in your immediate city/area, locate nearby dealerships, and arrange physical vehicle inspections. |
| CAMERA | Camera | Allows you to take live photos of your car exterior/interior and documents when listing a vehicle for sale. |
| READ_MEDIA_IMAGES / READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE | Media & Storage | Allows you to select and upload existing car photos or PDF documents from your gallery for vehicle inspection and verification. |
| POST_NOTIFICATIONS | Notifications | To send important transactional notifications regarding buyer inquiries, loan status updates, challan alerts, and price drops. |
| INTERNET / ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE | Network | Required to connect with our backend servers, load vehicle inventory, sync real-time chat, and verify OTPs. |
Note: You can revoke any optional permissions (Location, Camera, Storage, Notifications) at any time via your Android device settings: Settings → Apps → The Chakra → Permissions.
How We Use Your Data
We process your personal information strictly for legitimate business and operational purposes:
- Marketplace Operation: Enabling vehicle listings, browsing certified cars, connecting prospective buyers with verified sellers/dealers, and scheduling test drives.
- Vehicle RC & Challan Checks: Querying public and authorized transport registry data (Parivahan / State RTO records) to fetch registration validity, hypothecation status, and registered traffic challans for user-initiated checks.
- Loan & Insurance Processing: Forwarding your voluntary car financing or insurance inquiries directly to our licensed banking and insurance partners for quotes and approvals.
- Security & Fraud Prevention: Detecting fraudulent listings, preventing duplicate accounts, verifying vehicle documentation, and maintaining platform integrity.
- Customer Communication: Sending OTPs for login verification, service alerts, transactional receipts, and responding to support queries.
- Legal Compliance: Satisfying statutory and regulatory obligations under Indian law, including accounting, tax, and anti-fraud mandates.
Third-Party Sharing & Service Providers
We may share your data with trusted third-party partners only under strict data confidentiality agreements and strictly to provide requested services:
Data Security & Storage
The Chakra implements enterprise-grade technical and organizational safeguards to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, loss, misuse, or alteration:
Data Retention & User Data Deletion Policy
In strict compliance with Google Play's User Data Policy on Account Deletion, all users of The Chakra have the right to delete their account and associated personal data at any time.
How to Request Account & Data Deletion:
Method 1: Direct In-App Deletion
Open The Chakra Android App → Navigate to Account / Profile → Select Settings → Tap "Delete Account & Personal Data" → Confirm with your registered OTP.
Method 2: Web / Email Deletion Request (Without App Installed)
You can submit a data deletion request by emailing us directly at privacy@thechakra.co.in or support@thechakra.co.in with the subject line: "Account & Data Deletion Request". Please include your registered mobile number and email ID.
- Your profile, account identifiers, uploaded vehicle photos, chat messages, and saved cars are permanently deleted or irreversibly anonymized within 30 days of request verification.
- Certain transactional and financial invoice records may be retained for statutory periods strictly required by applicable Indian tax, auditing, and corporate laws (e.g. GST compliance).
Children's Privacy
Our services are strictly directed to persons who are 18 years of age or older and eligible to enter into legally binding contracts for buying, selling, financing, or insuring motor vehicles under Indian law.
We do not knowingly collect or solicit personal information from children under 13 (or under 18). If we learn that we have unintentionally collected personal information from a child without verified parental consent, we will promptly delete that information from our servers. Parents or guardians who believe their child has provided us with personal data may contact us at privacy@thechakra.co.in.
Your Privacy Rights (DPDP Act, 2023)
Under India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, you are entitled to exercise the following statutory rights regarding your personal information:
Grievance Officer & Contact Details
In accordance with the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, the designated Grievance Officer for The Chakra is:
Grievance Redressal Officer
The Chakra Automotive Technologies Private Limited
Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India
We may periodically update this Privacy Policy to reflect modifications in our legal obligations, features, or operational practices. The revised version will always be accessible at https://thechakra.co.in/privacy_policy with an updated revision date.