Cookie Policy
The Guardian Chronicle | Website and App Divison
Last Updated: May 2026
Entity
The Guardian Chronicle
Registered Office
3rd Floor, Satya Chambers, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India – 834001
Governing Law
DPDP Act, 2023 | IT Act, 2000
1. Introduction and User Agreement
At The Guardian Chronicle, our journalism is built on trust and transparency. This Cookie Policy explains what cookies are, how we use them, the legal basis for each category, and your rights to control them under the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023 and the IT Act, 2000.
By clicking “Accept All” on our Cookie Consent Banner, or by specifically opting into individual categories via our Consent Manager, you explicitly agree to the use of these technologies as outlined in this Policy. You may withdraw consent at any time by clicking “Manage Cookies” in our website footer.
2. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files placed on your device (computer, smartphone, or tablet) when you visit a website. They allow the website to recognize your device, remember your preferences, and understand how you interact with our news content.
Under the DPDP Act, 2023, cookies that can identify you — directly or when combined with other data (such as IP addresses or device IDs) — are classified as Personal Data and are subject to the same protections as any other personal data we collect.
3. How and Why We Use Cookies
We categorize our cookies based on purpose and legal basis:
3A. Strictly Necessary Cookies — No Consent Required
Legal Basis: Legitimate Use (DPDP Act, Section 7)
These cookies are essential for our website to function securely and cannot be switched off. We deploy these under the Legitimate Use provision of the DPDP Act.
Purpose: Manage user logins, remember privacy preferences, process subscription payments securely, and prevent fraudulent activity.
Data Processed: Session IDs, security tokens, CSRF protection tokens.
Duration: Session-based or up to 1 year.
3B. Performance and Analytical Cookies — Consent Required
Legal Basis: Explicit Consent (DPDP Act, Section 6)
These help us measure website traffic and analyze how readers engage with our journalism.
Purpose: Track popular articles, identify navigation errors, measure regional audience behavior.
Data Processed: Aggregated, pseudonymized browsing behavior, time on page, bounce rate.
Duration: Up to 13 months.
Third-Party Tools: Google Analytics (configured with IP anonymization), Firebase Analytics.
3C. Functionality Cookies — Consent Required
Legal Basis: Explicit Consent (DPDP Act, Section 6)
These enable enhanced functionality and personalization.
Purpose: Remember your region, language preference, customize your news feed, embed video seamlessly.
Data Processed: User preferences, localized settings, video player states.
Duration: Up to 1 year.
3D. Targeting and Advertising Cookies — Consent Required
Legal Basis: Explicit Consent (DPDP Act, Section 6)
To support our independent journalism, we display advertisements to free-tier users. These cookies are set by our advertising partners.
Purpose: Build an interest profile to show relevant advertisements and limit repetitive ad exposure.
Data Processed: Browsing history, ad interaction data, device identifiers, pseudonymized user IDs.
Duration: Up to 2 years.
Third-Party Cookie Disclosure maintained on our website.
Cross-Site Tracking Disclosure: Advertising cookies may track you across other websites to build audience profiles. iOS users will be presented with Apple’s App Tracking Transparency (ATT) prompt before any cross-app tracking occurs.
4. DRM and Watermarking Disclosure
In addition to standard cookies, The Guardian Chronicle employs the following technical tracking mechanisms for content protection:
E-Paper PDF Watermarking: Each downloaded E-Paper PDF embeds an invisible, pseudonymous digital watermark linked to your subscriber account. This allows us to trace unauthorized distribution back to the originating account.
Session Fingerprinting: To prevent account sharing and detect simultaneous unauthorized logins, we may collect device fingerprint data (browser version, screen resolution, OS) that does not identify you by name but is treated as Personal Data under the DPDP Act.
Acceptable Use: Attempting to bypass, remove, or tamper with watermarks or DRM systems is a violation of these Terms and may constitute an offence under Section 43 of the IT Act, 2000.
5. Acceptable Use of Site Technologies
Your interaction with our site technologies is governed by the IT Act, 2000. You agree:
Not to tamper with, bypass, or manipulate our Cookie Consent Manager.
Not to exploit our cookie architecture to inject malicious code or execute Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks.
Not to use automated bots to harvest session tokens or user data.
Not to spoof your location or device characteristics to circumvent regional content restrictions.
Violation may result in immediate account suspension and legal action under Section 43 of the IT Act.
6. Managing Your Preferences and Withdrawing Consent
Under the DPDP Act, 2023, your consent must be free, specific, informed, and easily revocable. You are in complete control of non-essential cookies:
Granular Control: We do not use pre-ticked boxes. You must actively opt in to each cookie category.
Easy Withdrawal: Click “Manage Cookies” in our website footer at any time to update or withdraw your preferences. Withdrawal is as easy as giving consent.
Consent Manager Integration: We fully support DPB-registered Consent Managers (e.g., DigiLocker-based Consent Managers). You may authorize a Consent Manager to manage your preferences on your behalf across our platform.
Annual Re-Consent: We will request re-confirmation of your consent for Performance and Targeting cookies annually.
Browser Settings: Most browsers allow you to block all cookies. Note that blocking Strictly Necessary Cookies will impair your ability to log in, subscribe, or use our platform.
7. Third-Party Cookies and External Services
The following third-party services may set cookies on our platform when you interact with their embedded features:
Google Analytics
Performance analysis. Privacy: policies.google.com
Firebase
App analytics and crash reporting.
Razorpay
Payment processing; sets security tokens on checkout pages.
Google AdSense / Ad Networks
Targeting cookies (Consent required; iOS ATT required).
YouTube Embed
Functional cookie for video playback (Consent required).
We regularly review our third-party cookie partners and update this list. Please check our website for the most current Third-Party Cookie Disclosure.
8. Contact
For questions about our use of cookies or to exercise your data rights:
DPO Email: admin@guardianchronicle.in
Postal Address: The Guardian Chronicle, 3rd Floor, Satya Chambers, Ranchi, JH – 834001