Privacy Policy -

THE FISCAL DAILY

Informed.Intelligent.Indispensible

Effective Date: 1st January, 2026 | Last Updated: 1st April, 2026

DOCUMENT PARTICULARS

Document Title	Privacy Policy – The Fiscal Daily
Publisher / Owner	Quant10 Fiscal Strategies Private Limited (hereinafter ‘We’, ‘Us’, ‘Our’, or ‘The Fiscal Daily’’)
Website / Platform	www.thefiscaldaily.com (and associated mobile applications, if any)
Jurisdiction	Republic of India
Governing Law	Information Technology Act, 2000; IT (Amendment) Act, 2008; IT (Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures and Sensitive Personal Data or Information) Rules, 2011; Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDPA); applicable RBI, SEBI, ICAI guidelines
Audience	Chartered Accountants, Cost Accountants, Company Secretaries, Tax Professionals, CFOs, Economists, Finance Enthusiasts, Students & General Public
Data Protection Officer	editor@thefiscaldaily.com
Grievance Officer	editor@thefiscaldaily.com
Policy Version	Version 1.2

This Privacy Policy is a binding legal document. Please read it carefully before using The Fiscal Daily platform. By accessing or using our website, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by the terms set out herein.

1. Introduction and Our Commitment

The Fiscal Daily (‘TFD’, ‘we’, ‘us’, or ‘our’) is India’s dedicated online journal for Chartered Accountants, Tax Professionals, Chief Financial Officers, Cost Accountants, Company Secretaries, economists, finance students, and allied professionals. We publish in-depth editorial content covering the Indian economy, taxation law (Income Tax, GST, Customs, FEMA), professional career guidance, Big4s and top accounting firm updates, accounting software, and product reviews (including products like Zoho Books, Tally, Clear Tax, and others relevant to our readership), and profiles of distinguished professionals and firms.

We understand that our readership consists of discerning finance professionals who expect the highest standards of data stewardship. The collection, use, and protection of your personal data is a matter we take with the same rigour that our readers apply to their professional obligations. This Privacy Policy (‘Policy’) explains precisely what personal data we collect, why we collect it, how we process it, to whom we may disclose it, how long we retain it, and the rights you hold under Indian law.

This Policy applies to:

All visitors to www.thefiscaldaily.com and any sub-domains or affiliated pages
All registered users, subscribers, and newsletter recipients
Authors, contributors, and freelance writers who submit content
Advertisers, sponsors, and commercial partners
Any individual who interacts with us via email, social media, webforms, or any other channel

If you do not agree with this Policy, please discontinue use of the Platform immediately. Continued use constitutes acceptance of this Policy and any amendments thereof.

2. Definitions

For the purposes of this Policy, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them below:

‘Personal Data’ / ‘Personal Information’	Any data about an individual who is identifiable by or in relation to such data, as defined under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 and the IT (SPDI) Rules, 2011.
‘Sensitive Personal Data or Information (SPDI)’	Personal information relating to passwords, financial information, physical/mental health, sexual orientation, medical records, biometric information, as defined under IT (SPDI) Rules, 2011.
‘Data Principal’	The individual to whom the personal data relates (i.e., you, the user).
‘Data Fiduciary’	The Fiscal Daily, which alone or with others determines the purpose and means of processing personal data.
‘Processing’	Any operation performed on personal data including collection, recording, organisation, structuring, storage, retrieval, use, disclosure, erasure, or destruction.
‘Consent’	A free, specific, informed, unconditional, and unambiguous indication of the Data Principal’s agreement to the processing of personal data.
‘Cookie’	A small text file stored on your device by a website to remember information about your visit.
‘Platform’	The Fiscal Daily website, mobile applications, newsletters, social media pages, and any other digital touchpoint operated by us.
‘Third Party’	Any entity other than the Data Principal and The Fiscal Daily.
‘Data Processor’	An entity that processes personal data on behalf of The Fiscal Daily.

3. Personal Data We Collect

We collect personal data in the following categories, depending on your interaction with the Platform:

3.1 Data Provided Directly by You

3.1.1 Registration and Account Data

Full name
Email address
Mobile number (optional)
Professional designation (e.g., CA, CMA, CS, CFO, Tax Consultant)
Organisation / Firm name
ICAI Membership Number or other professional registration number (where voluntarily provided)
City, State, and Country of residence
Username and encrypted password

3.1.2 Newsletter and Subscription Data

Email address
Content preferences (e.g., GST, Income Tax, FEMA, Careers, Big4 News)
Subscription tier (free or premium)

3.1.3 Author / Contributor Data

Full name, credentials, and professional biography
Bank account details or UPI ID (for honorarium payments, treated as SPDI)
PAN Number (for TDS compliance under Indian tax law, treated as SPDI)
Profile photograph (with explicit consent)

3.1.4 Reader Interaction Data

Comments posted on articles
Letters to the Editor submitted via contact forms
Survey and poll responses
Feedback and ratings on articles or software reviews

3.1.5 Commercial and Advertiser Data

Company name, GST Identification Number (GSTIN), PAN
Billing address and contact person details
Payment transaction references (we do not store card numbers)

3.2 Data Collected Automatically

3.2.1 Technical and Usage Data

IP address and approximate geolocation (city/region level)
Browser type, version, and language settings
Operating system and device type
Referring URL and exit pages
Pages visited, articles read, time spent per page, scroll depth
Search queries entered on TFD’s internal search bar
Click-stream data and interaction events

3.2.2 Cookie and Tracking Data

We use the following categories of cookies and similar tracking technologies:

Strictly Necessary Cookies	Session management, security (CSRF tokens), load balancing. Cannot be disabled.
Functional Cookies	Remembering login state, language preferences, reading history. Enabled by default.
Analytics Cookies	Google Analytics 4, Hotjar – aggregate traffic analysis, heatmaps. Opt-out available.
Advertising / Targeting Cookies	Google AdSense, third-party ad networks for contextual advertising. Opt-out via Cookie Consent banner.
Social Media Cookies	LinkedIn, Twitter/X share buttons; may track your activity. Controlled via your social media account settings.

You may manage cookie preferences at any time via the Cookie Preferences Centre accessible from the footer of every page. Disabling certain categories may impair the functionality of the Platform.

3.3 Data Received from Third Parties

Authentication data from Google, LinkedIn, or other OAuth providers (if you choose to log in via these services)
Payment status and transaction IDs from payment gateways (Razorpay, PayU, etc.)
Demographic and interest data from advertising partners for contextual ad delivery

4. Purposes of Processing and Legal Basis

We process your personal data only for specific, lawful purposes. The table below sets out each processing activity, the categories of data involved, and the legal basis under applicable Indian law:

Purpose of Processing	Categories of Data \| Legal Basis
Creating and managing user accounts	Registration Data \| Consent; Contract
Delivering newsletters and content digests	Email, Preferences \| Consent (explicit opt-in)
Personalising content feed and recommendations	Usage Data, Preferences \| Legitimate Interest
Processing subscription payments	Payment Data, PAN, GSTIN \| Contract; Legal Obligation (Income Tax, GST)
Author honorarium and TDS compliance	Bank Details, PAN \| Legal Obligation (Income Tax Act, 1961)
Analytics and platform improvement	Usage, Technical Data \| Legitimate Interest
Responding to reader queries and comments	Contact, Interaction Data \| Consent; Legitimate Interest
Publishing author profiles and bylines	Author Bio, Photo \| Consent
Displaying contextual advertising	Cookie, Usage Data \| Consent
Enforcing our Terms of Use and legal obligations	Any relevant data \| Legal Obligation; Legitimate Interest
Detecting and preventing fraud or abuse	Technical, Usage Data \| Legitimate Interest; Legal Obligation
Complying with orders from courts or regulators	As required by law \| Legal Obligation

We do not process your personal data for purposes incompatible with those stated above. If we intend to process data for a new purpose, we will obtain fresh consent or notify you in advance.

5. Sensitive Personal Data or Information (SPDI)

Certain data collected by The Fiscal Daily qualifies as Sensitive Personal Data or Information (SPDI) under the IT (SPDI) Rules, 2011. This includes:

Bank account information and UPI IDs of contributing authors
PAN Numbers provided for TDS deduction
Any financial information shared voluntarily in the course of subscription billing

We apply heightened safeguards to SPDI, including:

Collection only with prior written consent
Storage in encrypted form (AES-256 or equivalent) on secure servers
Access restricted to authorised personnel on a strict need-to-know basis
No transfer to third parties except as strictly necessary for the stated purpose, and only with your explicit consent or as required by law

The Fiscal Daily does not collect biometric data, health data, or data relating to sexual orientation. Should you disclose such information voluntarily in comments or correspondence, we request you refrain from doing so, as it is unnecessary for your use of the Platform.

6. Disclosure of Personal Data

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal data. We may share your data with the following categories of recipients only to the extent necessary:

6.1 Service Providers and Data Processors

We engage carefully vetted third-party service providers who process data on our behalf, under contractual obligations of confidentiality and data protection. These include:

Cloud hosting and infrastructure providers (e.g., AWS, Google Cloud, or equivalent)
Email delivery platforms (e.g., Mailchimp, Sendinblue, or equivalent)
Payment gateway processors (e.g., Razorpay, PayU)
Analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics 4)
Advertising networks (e.g., Google AdSense) — limited to cookie/usage data only
Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) for website performance

6.2 Professional Regulators and Government Authorities

We may disclose your personal data to government departments, tax authorities (Income Tax Department, GST authorities), regulatory bodies, or courts when:

Required by law, regulation, or a valid legal process (e.g., court order, summons)
Necessary to comply with our TDS deduction obligations under the Income Tax Act, 1961
Necessary for GSTIN verification or GST compliance

6.3 Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, restructuring, or sale of assets of The Fiscal Daily, personal data may be transferred to the successor entity, subject to equivalent privacy protections. You will be notified of any such transfer via email or a prominent notice on the Platform.

6.4 Protection of Rights

We may disclose data to enforce our Terms of Use, protect the rights, property, or safety of The Fiscal Daily, our users, or the public, including exchanging information with other companies or organisations for fraud protection.

We require all third parties receiving your personal data to maintain adequate safeguards and to use the data only for the specified purposes. We do not allow them to use your data for their own purposes.

7. Cross-Border Data Transfers

The Fiscal Daily is based in India and primarily processes your data within India. However, some of our third-party service providers (e.g., cloud infrastructure, email platforms) may operate servers in jurisdictions outside India, including the United States, European Union, or Singapore.

Where personal data is transferred outside India, we take the following measures to ensure adequate protection:

Entering into Standard Contractual Clauses or equivalent data transfer agreements
Ensuring the recipient jurisdiction provides a level of protection comparable to India
Obtaining your consent to such transfer where required by the DPDPA, 2023

By using the Platform, you acknowledge and consent to the transfer of your data to countries outside India for the purposes described in this Policy, subject to the safeguards outlined above.

8. Data Retention

We retain your personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by law. The following table sets out our retention schedule:

Category of Data	Retention Period
Account and Registration Data	Duration of account + 3 years after account deletion (for legal compliance)
Newsletter Subscriber Data	Until unsubscribe + 6 months (for suppression list maintenance)
Author PAN and Bank Details	7 years (as required under Income Tax Act for TDS records)
Payment Transaction Records	8 years (as required under GST Act and Income Tax Act)
Usage and Analytics Data	26 months (Google Analytics default; anonymised after 14 months)
Cookie Data	As per cookie lifespan (session cookies expire immediately; persistent cookies as disclosed in Cookie Policy)
Comments and User-Generated Content	Duration of publication + 5 years, unless deletion requested
Correspondence / Support Tickets	3 years from resolution
Legal Hold Data	Until the relevant legal matter is resolved

Upon expiry of the retention period, personal data is securely deleted or anonymised so that it can no longer be attributed to any individual.

9. Your Rights as a Data Principal

Under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 and other applicable Indian laws, you have the following rights in relation to your personal data:

9.1 Right to Access

You have the right to obtain confirmation of whether we process your personal data, and to access a copy of the personal data we hold about you, along with information about the processing activities.

9.2 Right to Correction and Completion

You have the right to request correction of inaccurate, incomplete, or misleading personal data we hold about you.

9.3 Right to Erasure (‘Right to be Forgotten’)

You may request deletion of your personal data where:

The data is no longer necessary for the purpose for which it was collected
You withdraw consent and there is no other legal basis for processing
You object to processing on legitimate interest grounds and our interests do not override yours

This right is subject to limitations where retention is required by law (e.g., tax records, legal proceedings).

9.4 Right to Withdraw Consent

Where processing is based on consent, you may withdraw it at any time without affecting the lawfulness of processing carried out prior to withdrawal. Withdrawal can be effected by:

Clicking ‘Unsubscribe’ in any marketing email
Adjusting preferences in your Account Settings
Contacting us at editor@thefiscaldaily.com

9.5 Right to Data Portability

You have the right to receive personal data you have provided to us in a structured, commonly used, machine-readable format, and to transmit it to another data fiduciary.

9.6 Right to Grievance Redressal

You have the right to have your grievances regarding the processing of your personal data addressed in a timely manner. Please refer to Section 15 for our Grievance Redressal mechanism.

9.7 Right of Nomination

As per the DPDPA, 2023, you have the right to nominate any individual to exercise your rights in the event of your death or incapacity.

9.8 Right to Object to Automated Decision-Making

Where we engage in automated processing that significantly affects you, you have the right to request human review of such decisions and to obtain an explanation.

To exercise any of the above rights, please submit a verified request to editor@thefiscaldaily.com We will respond within 30 days. We may request proof of identity before processing your request to prevent unauthorised access.

10. Security of Personal Data

The Fiscal Daily implements appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data against accidental or unlawful destruction, loss, alteration, unauthorised disclosure, or access. Our security measures include:

10.1 Technical Measures

SSL/TLS encryption for all data in transit (HTTPS enforced across the Platform)
AES-256 encryption for data at rest, particularly SPDI
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for all administrative accounts
Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing
Web Application Firewall (WAF) and DDoS mitigation
Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) and Security Information & Event Management (SIEM)
Automated backups with encrypted offsite storage

10.2 Organisational Measures

Role-based access control: employees access only data necessary for their specific function
Mandatory data protection training for all staff handling personal data
Data Processing Agreements with all third-party processors
Regular internal audits of data processing activities
Documented incident response plan for data breaches

10.3 Data Breach Notification

In the event of a personal data breach that is likely to result in risk to your rights and freedoms, we will:

Notify the Data Protection Board of India (once constituted) within 72 hours of becoming aware of the breach, as required under the DPDPA, 2023
Notify affected Data Principals without undue delay where the breach is likely to result in high risk
Provide details of the nature of the breach, categories of data affected, likely consequences, and measures taken or proposed

No method of electronic transmission or storage is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal data, we cannot guarantee its absolute security. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials.

11. Children’s Privacy

The Platform is not directed at individuals under the age of 18 years. We do not knowingly collect personal data from minors. If you are below 18 years of age, please do not register on the Platform or submit any personal information.

If we become aware that personal data has been collected from a person under 18 without appropriate parental consent, we will take immediate steps to delete such data. Parents or guardians who believe that a minor has provided us with personal data may contact us at editor@thefiscaldaily.com

12. Third-Party Links and Embedded Content

The Fiscal Daily contains links to third-party websites, embedded content (e.g., YouTube videos, social media posts), and references to third-party software and products (such as Zoho Books, Tally, ClearTax, etc.) reviewed on the Platform.

Please note the following:

When you click on a third-party link, you leave the Platform and are subject to the privacy policy of that third party. We have no control over, and assume no responsibility for, the content or privacy practices of third-party sites.
Software reviews published on TFD are editorial in nature. We may receive review access to software free of charge, but this does not constitute a paid endorsement unless explicitly disclosed under Advertising Disclosure. User data shared with reviewed software providers is governed by those providers’ own privacy policies.
Embedded social media widgets may collect data about your browser and page visits even if you do not click on them. We recommend reviewing the privacy policies of LinkedIn, Twitter/X, Facebook, YouTube, and other platforms whose content appears on our site.

The inclusion of any link or embedded content does not imply our endorsement. We encourage you to review the privacy policy of every website you visit.

13. Advertising and Sponsored Content

The Fiscal Daily is an editorially independent platform. We may, however, generate revenue through the following mechanisms that involve data processing:

13.1 Display Advertising

We serve contextual display advertisements through Google AdSense and potentially other ad networks. These networks use cookies and device identifiers to serve advertisements relevant to our professional audience. You may opt out of personalised advertising via your Google Ad settings or the Cookie Preferences Centre on our website.

13.2 Sponsored Content / Native Advertising

Certain articles or features may be sponsored by accounting firms, software companies, or financial service providers. All sponsored content will be clearly labelled as ‘Sponsored’, ‘Paid Partnership’, or ‘Advertisement’ in accordance with ASCI guidelines and our editorial standards. The sponsor’s privacy policy will apply to any data collected through such content.

13.3 Affiliate Links

We may include affiliate links in software reviews and product recommendations. If you click an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission. This does not influence our editorial assessments. No personal data is shared with affiliate partners beyond standard referral tracking identifiers.

Advertising disclosures will be clearly and prominently displayed. The Fiscal Daily maintains strict separation between editorial and commercial functions. Advertisers do not influence our editorial decisions.

14. User-Generated Content and Public Posts

The Platform allows registered users to post comments on articles, submit letters to the editor, participate in polls and surveys, and share content via social media. Please be aware of the following:

Comments and posts made on the Platform may be publicly visible to all visitors and may be indexed by search engines.
Do not include personal data, financial account details, client information, or confidential professional information in public comments.
We reserve the right to moderate, edit, or remove comments that violate our Terms of Use, are defamatory, constitute contempt of court, or disclose privileged professional information.
Information disclosed in public forums is no longer under our control and may be collected and used by third parties. Exercise caution in disclosing personal information publicly.
If you submit a ‘Letter to the Editor’ for publication, we will seek your explicit consent before publishing your name. You may request anonymity.

15. Grievance Redressal

We are committed to resolving data privacy concerns promptly and transparently. Our grievance mechanism is structured as follows:

15.1 Grievance Officer

Name	Grievance Officer, The Fiscal Daily
Designation	Grievance Officer (as required under IT (Intermediaries Guidelines) Rules, 2021)
Email	editor@thefiscaldaily.com
Postal Address	The Fiscal Daily, [29, Gangotri Vihar, Canal Road, Dehradun-248001], India
Working Hours	Monday to Friday, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM IST (excluding public holidays)
Response Time	Acknowledgement within 48 hours; Resolution within 30 days

15.2 Data Protection Officer

Name	Data Protection Officer, The Fiscal Daily
Email	editor@thefiscaldaily.com
Scope	Matters relating to personal data processing, DPDPA compliance, and cross-border data transfers

15.3 Escalation

If your grievance is not resolved to your satisfaction within 30 days, you may escalate the matter to:

The Data Protection Board of India (once constituted under the DPDPA, 2023)
The Adjudicating Officer appointed under Section 46 of the Information Technology Act, 2000
Any other competent authority under applicable law

16. Compliance with Applicable Laws

The Fiscal Daily’s data processing activities are designed to comply with the following legislative and regulatory framework:

Information Technology Act, 2000 (as amended)	Primary legislation governing electronic records, data protection, and cyber offences in India.
IT (Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures and SPDI) Rules, 2011	Governs the handling of Sensitive Personal Data or Information.
IT (Intermediaries Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021	Governs grievance redressal obligations for digital publishers.
Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDPA)	The comprehensive data protection law governing processing of digital personal data.
Income Tax Act, 1961	Governs TDS obligations and retention of financial records.
GST Acts (CGST, IGST, SGST)	Governs GST invoicing and record-keeping obligations.
The Indian Contract Act, 1872	Governs contractual obligations with data processors and users.
Press Council of India Guidelines	Editorial standards applicable to online news and information portals.
ASCI Code of Self-Regulation	Advertising standards, including sponsored content disclosures.

We continuously monitor changes in applicable law and update our practices accordingly. Where any provision of this Policy conflicts with applicable law, the legal provision shall prevail.

17. Specific Provisions for Professional Data

Given that The Fiscal Daily serves an audience of licenced finance professionals, the following specific provisions apply:

17.1 Professional Identity Data

ICAI Membership Numbers, GSTIN, PAN, and similar professional identifiers provided by registered users are used solely for verification, profile display (with consent), and statutory compliance. We do not verify the accuracy of professional credentials independently and are not responsible for any misrepresentation.

17.2 Client Confidentiality

The Fiscal Daily urges all professionals contributing articles, comments, or case studies to ensure that any references to clients, transactions, or disputes are appropriately anonymised in accordance with the ICAI Code of Ethics, Bar Council rules, and applicable professional standards. We will remove content that appears to violate client confidentiality obligations upon notification.

17.3 Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Content

Where TFD content is relied upon for CPE or professional development purposes, we do not collect or share any data with the ICAI, ICMAI, ICSI, or any other professional body unless explicitly disclosed and consented to for specific programmes.

18. Analytics, Research, and Anonymised Data

We use aggregated, anonymised data for the following purposes, none of which involve the identification of individual users:

Generating editorial insights about topics of greatest relevance to our professional readership
Sharing aggregated reader demographic data with potential advertisers (e.g., ‘65% of our readers are Chartered Accountants based in Tier-1 cities’)
Internal research to improve content quality, platform performance, and user experience
Publishing industry reports or surveys based on aggregated poll/survey responses

Such anonymised or aggregated data does not constitute personal data and is not subject to the obligations in this Policy.

19. Changes to this Privacy Policy

We reserve the right to update or amend this Privacy Policy at any time. We will provide notice of material changes as follows:

A prominent notice on the homepage of the Platform for at least 30 days prior to the change taking effect
An email notification to all registered users and newsletter subscribers
An updated ‘Last Updated’ date at the top of this Policy

Your continued use of the Platform following the effective date of any revised Policy constitutes your acceptance of the amended terms. If you do not agree to the revised Policy, please cease using the Platform and delete your account.

We maintain an archive of previous versions of this Policy, which is available upon written request to editor@thefiscaldaily.com.

20. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

This Policy, and any disputes arising from or in connection with it, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of India.

In the event of any dispute, controversy, or claim arising out of or relating to this Policy or the breach, termination, or invalidity thereof, the parties shall first attempt to resolve the matter through good-faith negotiation. If the dispute cannot be resolved within 30 days, it shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the competent courts at [Dehradun, Uttarakhand], India.

21. Cookie Policy (Summary)

The following is the summary of our cookie policy:

We use cookies to provide, improve, and personalise the Platform experience
Strictly necessary cookies cannot be disabled as they are essential for the Platform to function
You can opt out of non-essential cookies via the Cookie Preferences Centre in the website footer
You may also control cookies via your browser settings; however, disabling all cookies may impair Platform functionality
We do not use cookies to collect Sensitive Personal Data

22. Contact Us

For any queries, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or the processing of your personal data, please contact us through the following channels:

General Privacy Queries	editor@thefiscaldaily.com
Grievance Officer	editor@thefiscaldaily.com
Data Protection Officer	editor@thefiscaldaily.com
Editorial / Content Queries	editor@thefiscaldaily.com
Advertising and Partnerships	editor@thefiscaldaily.com
Website	www.thefiscaldaily.com
Postal Address	The Fiscal Daily, [Registered Office Address: 29, Gangotri Vihar, Canal Road, Dehardun-248001

DECLARATION

This Privacy Policy has been drafted in accordance with the Information Technology Act, 2000, the IT (SPDI) Rules, 2011, the IT (Intermediaries Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, as applicable to The Fiscal Day as a digital publisher and online journal. This Policy reflects our genuine commitment to protecting the privacy and data rights of our esteemed professional readership.

For and on behalf of