Privacy Policy - THE UNFOLDED SHELF

Last Updated: 22 August 2026

Welcome to THE UNFOLDED SHELF.

Your privacy matters to us. This Privacy Policy explains how THE UNFOLDED SHELF, operated by Alok Bhattacharjee, may collect, use, store, protect and disclose information when you visit or interact with our website.

Our website is intended for readers in India and around the world and provides informational, educational, analytical and research-based content covering science, history, Mind-psychology, space, nature, technology, Belief & The Unexplained-mythology and related subjects.

By accessing or using this website, you acknowledge the practices described in this Privacy Policy.

If you do not agree with this Privacy Policy, please discontinue use of the website.

1. About The Unfolded Shelf

THE UNFOLDED SHELF is an independent informational and educational publication created by:

Alok Bhattacharjee
Teacher, Independent Researcher & Digital Content Writer

The website explores:

Science → Explain the Strange
History → Recover the Forgotten
Mind – Psychology → Reveal the Hidden
Space → Explore the Unknown
Nature → Uncover the Extraordinary
Technology → Examine What Comes Next
Belief & The Unexplained-Myth → Separate Belief From Evidence
Now Unfolding→ Understand what is happening now.

We aim to provide research-based, accessible and informative content while respecting the privacy of our readers.

2. Information We May Collect

Depending on how you interact with our website, we may collect different categories of information.

Information you voluntarily provide

You may voluntarily provide information when you:

Contact us by email
Submit a correction or feedback
Suggest a topic or story
Subscribe to a newsletter, if available
Participate in a survey, form or other reader activity
Otherwise communicate with us

This information may include your:

Name
Email address
Message or correspondence
Other information you choose to provide

Please do not send sensitive personal information through ordinary email or website forms unless it is specifically requested and appropriate.

3. Information Collected Automatically

When you visit THE UNFOLDED SHELF, certain technical information may be collected automatically by the website, hosting provider, analytics services, advertising services or other technologies used on the website.

This may include information such as:

IP address
Browser type and version
Device type
Operating system
Approximate geographic location derived from technical information
Referring website or page
Pages visited
Date and time of access
Time spent on pages
General interaction and usage information
Technical information relating to website performance and security

This information is generally used in aggregated or statistical form to understand how visitors use the website and to improve its performance and content.

4. Cookies and Similar Technologies

THE UNFOLDED SHELF may use cookies and similar technologies.

A cookie is a small text file that may be stored on your device when you visit a website.

Cookies may be used for purposes such as:

Keeping the website functioning properly
Remembering preferences
Understanding website traffic
Measuring website performance
Improving user experience
Delivering or measuring advertising
Detecting fraud, abuse or security problems

Some cookies may be placed by third-party services operating on or through the website.

You can generally control or delete cookies through your browser settings.

Please note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of parts of the website.

5. Advertising

THE UNFOLDED SHELF may display advertisements provided by third-party advertising networks, including Google AdSense, if and when such services are enabled on the website.

Advertising providers may use cookies, device identifiers or similar technologies to:

Display advertisements
Measure advertising performance
Limit repetitive advertisements
Understand advertising interactions
Provide advertising that may be relevant to users

The use of advertising technologies is controlled by the applicable third-party provider’s policies and settings.

Advertising practices may change as our website develops and as advertising services are added, removed or updated.

Where required by applicable law, appropriate consent mechanisms may be used before certain cookies or advertising technologies are activated.

6. Google Services

THE UNFOLDED SHELF may use Google services such as advertising, analytics, search, security or other website-related services.

Depending on which Google services are active on the website, Google and its partners may collect or process certain information through cookies or similar technologies.

These services may help us:

Understand website traffic
Improve content
Measure advertising
Protect the website
Identify technical problems
Provide relevant advertising where applicable

Google’s handling of information is governed by its own privacy policies and terms.

For information about how Google handles data, visitors should review Google’s current privacy documentation and advertising-related policies.

7. Analytics

THE UNFOLDED SHELF may use analytics services to understand how visitors interact with the website.

Analytics information may include:

Number of visitors
Pages viewed
Traffic sources
Approximate geographic information
Device and browser information
General engagement patterns
Website performance information

We use this information primarily to understand which content is useful to readers and to improve the website.

Analytics information is generally reviewed in aggregate rather than to identify individual readers personally.

8. How We Use Information

Information collected through THE UNFOLDED SHELF may be used for legitimate purposes such as:

Operating and maintaining the website
Responding to reader enquiries
Responding to correction requests
Investigating reported factual errors
Improving articles and website functionality
Understanding audience interests
Monitoring website performance
Preventing fraud, abuse and security threats
Complying with applicable legal obligations
Managing advertising and analytics services
Protecting the rights, safety and integrity of the website and its users

We do not use information for purposes that are materially inconsistent with this Privacy Policy without appropriate notice or consent where required by law.

9. Email Communications

If you contact us by email, we may retain the correspondence necessary to respond to your enquiry, investigate a correction, consider a story suggestion or maintain appropriate editorial records.

Our contact email is:

theunfoldedshelf@theunfoldedshelf.com

If a newsletter or subscription service is introduced in the future, additional information about subscription, email delivery and unsubscribe procedures will be provided where applicable.

You can choose not to provide personal information when contacting us, although doing so may prevent us from responding to certain enquiries.

10. Third-Party Websites and Services

THE UNFOLDED SHELF may contain links to external websites, including:

Universities
Scientific institutions
Government websites
Museums
Research organizations
Publishers
News organizations
Social media platforms
Advertising providers
Other third-party websites

If you click an external link, you will leave THE UNFOLDED SHELF.

We do not control the privacy practices, security, content or policies of external websites.

We encourage visitors to review the privacy policies of any third-party website they visit.

11. Embedded Content

Articles may occasionally contain embedded content such as:

Videos
Images
Maps
Social media posts
Research materials
Interactive elements
Other external content

Embedded content may behave as though you have visited the third-party website directly.

As a result, third-party providers may collect information about your interaction with their embedded content according to their own privacy policies.

12. Data Sharing and Disclosure

THE UNFOLDED SHELF does not sell your personal information simply because you visit the website.

We may share or permit access to information with appropriate third parties when reasonably necessary for purposes such as:

Website hosting
Website security
Analytics
Advertising
Email communication
Website functionality
Technical support
Legal compliance

We may also disclose information where required by applicable law, regulation, court order or lawful governmental request.

Where reasonably possible and legally permitted, we seek to limit disclosures to information that is relevant and necessary for the stated purpose.

13. Data Retention

We retain information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, including:

Responding to enquiries
Maintaining editorial records
Handling correction requests
Meeting legal obligations
Resolving disputes
Maintaining security
Operating legitimate business and website functions

Retention periods may vary depending on the type of information and the reason it was collected.

Technical and analytics information may also be retained by third-party service providers according to their own retention policies.

14. Data Security

We take reasonable administrative, technical and organizational measures to protect information from unauthorized access, misuse, alteration, disclosure or destruction.

However, no website, server, electronic communication or method of transmission over the internet can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

Accordingly, while we take reasonable precautions, we cannot guarantee absolute security of information transmitted to or through the website.

15. Children’s Privacy

THE UNFOLDED SHELF is intended primarily for a general audience and is not specifically directed at children.

We do not knowingly seek to collect personal information from children in circumstances where applicable law prohibits such collection.

If you believe that a child has provided personal information to us without appropriate consent, please contact us at:

theunfoldedshelf@theunfoldedshelf.com

If we become aware that we have collected information from a child in circumstances requiring deletion, we will take reasonable steps to address the situation in accordance with applicable law.

16. Privacy Rights

Depending on where you live and the laws applicable to you, you may have certain rights relating to your personal information.

These may include, where applicable:

The right to know what personal information is collected
The right to request access to personal information
The right to request correction of inaccurate information
The right to request deletion of certain information
The right to object to or restrict certain processing
The right to withdraw consent where processing is based on consent
The right to request information about how your data is used
The right to lodge a complaint with an appropriate data protection authority

Not every right applies in every jurisdiction, and some rights may be subject to legal exceptions.

To make a privacy-related request, contact:

theunfoldedshelf@theunfoldedshelf.com

We may need sufficient information to verify your identity before fulfilling certain requests.

17. International Visitors

THE UNFOLDED SHELF is available to readers in India and internationally.

If you access the website from outside India, your information may be processed by service providers located in countries other than your own.

Different countries have different privacy laws and standards.

Where applicable, we seek to use appropriate safeguards for international data processing as required by relevant law.

18. Indian Visitors

For readers in India, the processing of personal information may be subject to applicable Indian data-protection and information-technology laws and regulations, including the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, to the extent applicable to our activities.

Where legally required, we will provide applicable notices, obtain required consent and provide mechanisms for exercising relevant rights.

As Indian data-protection rules and regulatory requirements evolve, this Privacy Policy may be updated accordingly.

19. European Economic Area, United Kingdom and Other Jurisdictions

Visitors from jurisdictions with comprehensive data-protection laws may have additional rights depending on the circumstances.

Where applicable, we will process personal information on an appropriate legal basis and provide rights and disclosures required by the relevant law.

Where consent is required for certain cookies, analytics or advertising technologies, appropriate consent mechanisms may be provided.

Because privacy requirements differ between jurisdictions, the precise rights available to an individual depend on factors including their location, the type of information involved and the reason for processing.

20. Your Choices

You can take several steps to manage your privacy while using THE UNFOLDED SHELF.

You may:

Adjust cookie settings in your browser
Disable certain browser cookies
Avoid submitting unnecessary personal information
Contact us regarding privacy requests
Use available advertising or privacy controls provided by third-party advertising services
Unsubscribe from communications where an unsubscribe mechanism is provided

Some website functions may not work properly if certain cookies or technologies are disabled.

21. Advertising and “Do Not Track” Signals

Browser settings and privacy technologies may allow users to express preferences about tracking or advertising.

Because different browsers, devices, advertising providers and jurisdictions implement these technologies differently, THE UNFOLDED SHELF may not respond to every type of automated “Do Not Track” signal in the same manner.

Where applicable, we will implement legally required mechanisms for managing consent and privacy preferences.

22. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time.

Changes may be made because of:

New website features
New advertising or analytics services
Changes in technology
Changes in applicable law
Changes in our editorial or business practices
Improvements to privacy protections

When we make changes, the “Last Updated” date at the top of this page will be revised.

Visitors are encouraged to review this page periodically.

23. Accuracy and Editorial Independence

THE UNFOLDED SHELF is an independent informational and educational publication.

Our editorial content is created separately from advertising decisions.

Advertising, where displayed, does not determine the conclusions, opinions or editorial findings presented in our articles.

We aim to distinguish factual evidence from interpretation, speculation and opinion.

If you identify a factual error in an article, please contact us with the relevant information and supporting evidence.

24. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, believe your privacy has been affected, or wish to exercise an applicable privacy right, please contact:

Alok Bhattacharjee
THE UNFOLDED SHELF

Email: theunfoldedshelf@theunfoldedshelf.com

For privacy requests, please use the subject line:

“Privacy Request — The Unfolded Shelf”

We will review legitimate requests and respond within a reasonable period, subject to applicable legal requirements.

25. Final Note

THE UNFOLDED SHELF believes that good information should be accessible, transparent and responsibly presented.

We investigate the strange, recover the forgotten, reveal the hidden, explore the unknown and separate belief from evidence.

We apply the same principle to privacy:

You should know what happens to your information when you visit our digital shelf.

Thank you for trusting THE UNFOLDED SHELF.