📜 Terms & Conditions

Effective Date: October 20, 2025

Welcome to KalaQaar ("Platform," "we," "us," or "our"). We provide an online marketplace that connects artists ("Artists") with individuals or entities seeking to book artistic services ("Clients") (collectively, "Users").

By accessing or using our Platform (including our website and mobile application), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms") and our Privacy Policy.

1. The KalaQaar Platform

KalaQaar is a neutral venue that provides a platform for Artists and Clients to connect, book, and pay for artistic services. We are not a party to any agreement or transaction between Users and are not an agent or representative of any User. We do not endorse any Artist or Client and do not control the quality, safety, or legality of the services provided by Artists.

2. User Accounts

• Eligibility: You must be at least 18 years old to create an account.
• Registration: You agree to provide accurate and complete information when creating your account. You are responsible for all activity that occurs under your account.
• Verification: We may require Users to undergo a verification process, but this does not constitute an endorsement or guarantee of any User.
• Account Security: You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account password.

3. Financial Terms

• Service Fees: We charge a service fee to Artists and/or Clients for each booking made through the Platform. This fee will be clearly disclosed to you before you confirm a booking.
• Payments & Escrow: Clients agree to pay the full amount of the booking, including all fees and taxes. All payments are processed by our payment partner Cashfree Payments. Client funds may be held in a segregated escrow arrangement facilitated by Cashfree and are released in accordance with booking completion and Platform policies. We do not store full card details.
• Payouts to Artists: Payouts are processed to the Artist’s designated method (e.g., UPI VPA or bank account) via Cashfree, less applicable fees. Payouts may be delayed, held, or canceled if: (a) the booking is disputed or not completed; (b) fraud or abuse is suspected; or (c) the Artist has not completed identity verification (KYC) as required by law and by the Platform.
• Cancellations and Refunds: Cancellation and refund policies are determined by the Artist and displayed at the time of booking. KalaQaar may facilitate refunds in accordance with these policies.
• Disputes: KalaQaar provides a dispute resolution mechanism to handle disagreements between Clients and Artists regarding bookings or payments. We will make a good faith effort to mediate the dispute, and our decision will be final and binding.
• Taxes: All Users are responsible for determining and paying their own applicable taxes.

4. Identity Verification (KYC)

To maintain a safe marketplace and comply with applicable regulations, Artists may be required to complete Know Your Customer (KYC) verification. KYC is performed using Cashfree’s hosted verification flows. When an Artist clicks to verify, they are redirected to Cashfree’s secure page to provide PAN, UPI VPA, bank details, and/or Aadhaar (as applicable). These sensitive identity details are collected and processed directly by Cashfree, not by KalaQaar. Upon completion, KalaQaar receives only verification status, limited masked values (for example, last 4 digits), and optional name-match scores.

• Payout gating: Payouts are released only after KYC is verified (e.g., PAN + UPI/Bank), and may also require booking completion confirmation.
• Re-verification: We may request periodic re-verification or additional checks where required by law or to prevent fraud.
• Consent: By initiating verification, you consent to share data with Cashfree for identity verification and payouts in line with Cashfree’s policies.

5. User Conduct and Content

• Lawful Use: You agree to use the Platform only for lawful purposes and in accordance with these Terms.
• Prohibited Conduct: You will not harass, defraud, or impersonate any person; post false or misleading information; use the platform for any illegal activity; or attempt to circumvent our fee structure.
• User Content: You grant KalaQaar a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, display, and distribute any content (such as profile pictures, portfolios, and reviews) you post on the Platform for the purpose of operating and promoting the Platform. You represent that you have all necessary rights to the content you post.

6. Disclaimers and Limitation of Liability

• "AS IS" Service: The Platform is provided "as is" without any warranties, express or implied. We do not guarantee that the platform will be error-free or uninterrupted.
• Limitation of Liability: To the fullest extent permitted by law, KalaQaar shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages, or any loss of profits or revenues, arising out of your use of the Platform or any transaction between Users.

7. Termination

We may suspend or terminate your account at any time, without notice, for any reason, including for a breach of these Terms.

8. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by the laws of [Your Jurisdiction, e.g., India]. Any disputes shall be resolved in the courts of [Your City, e.g., Mumbai].

9. Changes to These Terms

We may modify these Terms at any time. We will provide notice of any significant changes, and your continued use of the Platform after such notice constitutes your acceptance of the new Terms.

10. Contact Us

If you have any questions about these Terms, please contact us at info@kalaqaar.com.