Privacy Policy

Last updated: June 2026

Gita Kavach is a mindful app blocker that helps you practice Bhagavad Gita teachings by blocking your distracting apps. This policy applies to both the Android and iOS versions of the app.

Core principle: all user-generated data stays on your device and is never transmitted to any server.

1. Data Stored on Your Device

Gita Kavach stores the following data locally on your device:

Reading history
Bookmarks
Streaks and streak history
Mood logs
Selected blocked apps
Language preference
Onboarding profile (name, age bracket, gender, goals, obstacles)
App settings and window-based blocking state

All of this data remains on your device. Uninstalling the app removes all locally stored data.

2. Installed Apps

The app accesses your installed apps so you can choose which ones to block.

Android: the app reads the list of launchable apps from the system and stores your selection locally
iOS: app selection is handled through Apple's FamilyActivity Picker — the app receives a tokenized selection without seeing individual app names in plain text
Your selection is never transmitted to any server

3. Platform-Specific Permissions

Android

Accessibility Service

The accessibility service permission is used to detect when a blocked app comes to the foreground.

The service checks the app package name locally against your blocked-app list
It does not retrieve window content, keystrokes, or text from other apps
It does not transmit any information

Display Over Other Apps (Overlay)

The "Display over other apps" permission is used only to show the Gita Kavach reading screen when a blocked app is detected.

It opens the app's reading flow
It does not collect screen content from other apps

iOS

Screen Time (Family Controls)

Gita Kavach uses Apple's Screen Time APIs — FamilyControls, ManagedSettings, and DeviceActivity — to block selected apps and categories.

You are asked to authorize Screen Time access for your own device (individual authorization)
Your app selection is stored as a tokenized FamilyActivitySelection in a local App Group shared between the main app and its background extensions
Shields and blocking schedules are enforced entirely by Apple's on-device framework
Your selection is never transmitted off your device

Local Notifications

On iOS, when you interact with the block shield, the app may send a local notification prompting you to open the app and read your sloka.

Notifications are generated and displayed entirely on your device
No notification content is sent to any server

4. Purchases and Third-Party Services

Gita Kavach uses the following third-party services for subscription management:

Google Play Billing (Android)
App Store / StoreKit (iOS)
RevenueCat (both platforms)

These are used to process Pro subscriptions, restore purchases, and verify subscription status.

The app generates an anonymous app user ID — no name, email, or account is required. RevenueCat may record the following limited anonymous data associated with this ID:

Your last-seen date
Your device's operating system version

No personally identifiable information is collected or linked to your subscription.

Purchase and subscription data may be processed by Google Play, the App Store, and RevenueCat under their respective privacy policies.

5. Network Access

All sloka content is bundled with the app. Network access is used only for:

Subscription setup, verification, and restoration (via RevenueCat and platform billing)
Play Store in-app update checks (Android only)
Opening external links from the Settings screen
Loading web fonts if not locally cached

6. No Analytics or Tracking

Gita Kavach does not use any analytics, advertising, or crash-reporting SDKs. No usage data, behavioral data, or identifiers are collected or shared with third parties beyond what is described in this policy.

7. No Account Required

The app does not require you to create an account. There is no sign-in, no profile server, and no cloud sync. Your data is yours and stays on your device.

8. Data Retention and Deletion

All user data is stored using standard on-device storage mechanisms (Android SharedPreferences and iOS UserDefaults / App Group)
Uninstalling the app removes all local data from your device
On iOS, data shared between the app and its extensions via App Group is also removed on uninstall
Purchase records may still remain with Google Play, the App Store, or RevenueCat for subscription history and restore purposes

9. Children's Privacy

Gita Kavach is suitable for all ages. We do not knowingly collect any personal data from anyone, including children.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. When we do, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. Continued use of the app after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact

For privacy-related questions, contact:

support.gitakavach@gmail.com