Privacy notice

The Reading Year is a non-profit program funded by Caspian Foundation, a Section 8 company that operates as the philanthropic arm of Caspian Impact and is run in partnership with Luna Books. This notice explains what we do with the information you give us when you apply for the program or sign up for updates.

What we collect

If you apply: your name, email address, mobile number, date of birth, residential address, college, and course and year of study; a copy of your student ID; your answers about your reading habits and preferences; and your choice of how to receive books. If you're selected, we'll also record your monthly book choices, your feedback on each book, and your survey answers.

If you sign up for updates: your email address.

Why we collect it

To check that you're eligible, review your application, and run the selection lottery.
To run the program: sending your monthly book choices, arranging collection or delivery, and keeping in touch.
To evaluate the program, so we can learn whether it helps students build a reading habit. We report findings only in combined, anonymous form. No individual will be identified.
To send you updates, if you've asked for them.

Who can see it

The Caspian Foundation (the philanthropic arm of Caspian Impact) and Luna Books operate as joint Data Fiduciaries. The service providers we use to operate the website, store data, and send emails—specifically Netlify, Airtable, Brevo, and Fillout—process this data strictly on our behalf. Some of these infrastructure providers may securely store data on servers located outside India, in compliance with applicable law. We do not sell your information or share it with third parties for marketing.

How long we keep it

We retain your personal data only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined above. If you are not selected in the lottery, your application data will be deleted within 60 days of the selection unless you write to us explicitly seeking to be considered on priority for the next cohort. In that case, we'll keep your application details, but not the copy of your student ID, until the next cohort is selected, or for up to 12 months, whichever comes first. For selected participants, data will be permanently deleted or completely anonymized within nine months of the program ending, once the final survey and evaluation are complete.

Your rights and choices

Under the DPDP Act, 2023, you have the right to access, review, correct, or request the deletion of your personal data at any time. You also have the right to withdraw your consent. If you withdraw consent during the program, we will immediately stop sending you books and communications, and will erase your data (unless required to retain it by law).

To exercise any of these rights, please email us at hello@thereadingyear.org.

Grievance redressal

If you have any questions, concerns, or grievances regarding how your data is handled, please contact our designated Grievance Officer:

Name/Designation: B Mohini Devi, Head of CSR & Outreach, Caspian Impact
Email: mohini@caspian.in

If you are not satisfied with our response to your grievance, you have the right to lodge a formal complaint with the Data Protection Board of India (DPBI).

Last updated: 1 October 2026