Terms and Conditions

1. Acceptance of Terms

Welcome to Apply Bharat. By accessing or using our platform, services, or website, you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use our services.

These Terms apply to all users of the platform, including students, associates, counselors, educational institutions, and any other individuals or entities accessing or using our services.

2. Description of Services

Apply Bharat is a platform that provides:

• University discovery and program comparison for Indian universities
• AI-powered career counseling and guidance
• Application preparation and submission services
• Payment processing for application fees
• Student registration and management tools for associates
• Application tracking and status updates
• Educational resources and information

We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue any aspect of our services at any time without prior notice.

3. User Accounts and Registration

3.1 Account Creation

To use certain features of our platform, you must create an account. You agree to:

• Provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration
• Maintain and update your account information to keep it accurate
• Maintain the security of your account credentials
• Accept responsibility for all activities that occur under your account
• Notify us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account

3.2 Account Eligibility

You must be at least 13 years of age to create an account. If you are under 18, you represent that you have obtained parental or guardian consent to use our services.

3.3 Account Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account at any time for violation of these Terms, fraudulent activity, or any other reason we deem necessary to protect our platform and users.

4. User Responsibilities and Conduct

You agree to use our platform in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. You agree NOT to:

• Provide false, misleading, or fraudulent information
• Impersonate any person or entity or misrepresent your affiliation
• Upload or transmit viruses, malware, or any harmful code
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to our systems or other users' accounts
• Interfere with or disrupt the operation of our platform
• Use automated systems (bots, scrapers) to access our platform without permission
• Copy, reproduce, or distribute our content without authorization
• Engage in any activity that violates applicable laws or regulations
• Harass, abuse, or harm other users
• Use our services for any illegal or unauthorized purpose

5. Fees and Payments

5.1 Application Fees

When you use our application submission services ("apply_bharat_behalf"), you agree to pay:

• Enrollment Fees: The application fee charged by the university/institution
• Handling Charges: A fixed platform handling charge of ₹100 per application
• Processing Fee: Additional processing fee (if applicable) as determined by Apply Bharat

Total fees = Enrollment Fees + Handling Charges + Processing Fee

5.2 Payment Processing

Payments are processed securely through Easebuzz, our payment gateway partner. By making a payment, you agree to:

• Provide accurate payment information
• Authorize us to charge the specified amount
• Accept the terms and conditions of our payment processor
• Understand that all fees are non-refundable except as specified in our Refund Policy

5.3 Price Changes

We reserve the right to modify our fees at any time. Fee changes will not affect applications that have already been paid for.

6. Application Services

6.1 Application Submission

When you use our application submission services, you acknowledge that:

• We act as an intermediary to prepare and submit your application
• You are responsible for providing accurate and complete information
• You are responsible for ensuring all required documents are provided
• Application decisions are made solely by the educational institutions
• We do not guarantee admission or acceptance by any institution
• Application deadlines and requirements are set by the institutions

6.2 Application Status

Application status updates are provided based on information received from educational institutions. We strive to provide accurate and timely updates but cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of status information.

6.3 Document Accuracy

You are solely responsible for the accuracy and authenticity of all documents and information submitted through our platform. Any misrepresentation or fraudulent information may result in application rejection and account termination.

7. Intellectual Property Rights

All content, features, and functionality of our platform, including but not limited to text, graphics, logos, icons, images, software, and the compilation thereof, are the exclusive property of Apply Bharat or its licensors and are protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.

You are granted a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to access and use our platform for personal, non-commercial purposes. You may not:

• Reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works from our content
• Use our trademarks, logos, or branding without permission
• Reverse engineer or attempt to extract source code
• Remove or alter any copyright or proprietary notices

8. AI-Powered Services

Our platform uses artificial intelligence (AI) to provide career counseling, university recommendations, and other services. You understand and agree that:

• AI-generated content is for informational and guidance purposes only
• AI recommendations are suggestions and not guarantees
• You should verify all information independently
• We are not liable for decisions made based on AI recommendations
• AI services may use your data to provide personalized recommendations

9. Disclaimers and Limitations of Liability

9.1 Service Availability

We strive to provide continuous and reliable service, but we do not guarantee that our platform will be available at all times. We are not liable for any interruptions, errors, or unavailability of our services.

9.2 No Guarantees

We do not guarantee:

• Admission or acceptance by any educational institution
• The accuracy or completeness of information provided by institutions
• That our services will meet your specific requirements
• That our platform will be error-free or secure

9.3 Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Apply Bharat and its affiliates, officers, employees, and agents shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including but not limited to loss of profits, data, or opportunities, arising from your use of our services.

10. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Apply Bharat, its affiliates, officers, employees, and agents from and against any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from your use of our services, violation of these Terms, or infringement of any rights of another party.

11. Third-Party Links and Services

Our platform may contain links to third-party websites, services, or resources. We are not responsible for the content, privacy practices, or availability of these external sites. Your interactions with third parties are solely between you and the third party.

We use third-party services including Firebase, Easebuzz, OpenAI, and others. Your use of these services is subject to their respective terms and conditions.

12. Modifications to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. We will notify users of material changes by posting the updated Terms on our platform and updating the "Last Updated" date. Your continued use of our services after such modifications constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms. If you do not agree to the modified Terms, you must discontinue use of our services.

13. Termination

We may terminate or suspend your account and access to our services immediately, without prior notice, for any reason, including but not limited to:

• Violation of these Terms
• Fraudulent or illegal activity
• Non-payment of fees
• At our sole discretion for any other reason

Upon termination, your right to use our services will cease immediately. We may delete your account and data, subject to our data retention policies and legal obligations.

14. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of India, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

Any disputes arising from or relating to these Terms or our services shall be resolved through:

• First, through good faith negotiations
• If negotiations fail, through binding arbitration in accordance with the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 2015
• Arbitration shall be conducted in Ludhiana, Punjab, India

15. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect. The invalid provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid and enforceable.

16. Contact Information

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding these Terms and Conditions, please contact us: