Privacy and Policy

This Privacy Policy explains how LPG Equipment Research Centre (“LERC”, “we”, “us”, or “our”) collects, uses, discloses, and protects information when you use the LERC mobile application (“App”) available on the Google Play Store, and any related services offered through the App (collectively, the “Service”).

The App is primarily used by authorized personnel of LPG bottling plants operated by Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) (collectively, the “OMCs”) to raise and track requisitions for sending LPG equipment samples to LERC for testing, and to view content from the LERC website and LERC Testing Portal within the App.

By downloading, installing, or using the App, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with this policy, please do not use the App.

Quick summary — We collect account and plant details (name, designation, plant/OMC affiliation, contact information), the sample requisition details you submit for testing at LERC, and basic technical data about your device and app usage. We also let you browse LERC’s public website and testing portal inside the App. We do not sell your personal data. You can request access, correction, or deletion of your data at any time. Full details below.

1. Information We Collect

We collect the following categories of information:

a. Information you provide directly

Account information: name, official email address, phone number, employee/user ID, designation, and password (or OTP/login credentials) when you register or log in.
Plant & organizational details: the name and code of the LPG bottling plant you are affiliated with, and the OMC it belongs to (IOCL, HPCL, or BPCL), plant address/location, and your role at the plant.
Requisition information: details you submit when creating a requisition to send an LPG equipment sample to LERC for testing — including equipment type/name, batch or lot number, quantity, manufacturing details, reason for testing, dispatching details, and any supporting documents or photographs you choose to upload.
Requisition status & correspondence: updates, remarks, test results, and communications exchanged between the plant, LERC, and (where relevant) the OMC regarding a requisition.
Support communications: messages, queries, or feedback you send us through the App.

b. Information collected automatically

Device information: device model, operating system version, unique device identifiers, and app version.
Usage data: features used, screens viewed, time spent, crash logs, and diagnostic data.
Website / portal browsing data: when you use the in-App section that displays the LERC website (lerc.co.in) or the LERC Testing Portal (portal.lerc.co.in), standard web usage data (such as pages viewed) may be collected in the same way as if you visited those sites directly in a browser.
Location data: approximate or precise location, only if you grant location permission and the feature is enabled to be used, for example, to record the plant location associated with a requisition.

c. Information from other sources

If the App allows sign-in via Google or an OMC/enterprise identity provider, we may receive basic profile information (name, email, employee ID) from that provider, as permitted by your account settings with them. LERC may also receive requisition-related updates from OMC or plant administrators for the plants they manage.

2. How We Use Information

To create and manage your account, verify your plant/OMC affiliation, and authenticate your identity.
To create process, assign, track, and report on requisitions for sending LPG equipment samples from bottling plants to LERC for testing.
To share requisition status, test results, and related updates with the relevant plant personnel and, where applicable, the concerned OMC.
To let you view LERC’s website and test portal content within the App.
To communicate with you — requisition updates, dispatch/testing confirmations, and support responses.
To improve the App’s performance, fix bugs, and develop new features.
To send important notices, safety information, or policy updates related to LPG equipment testing.
To maintain records for quality, audit, and regulatory purposes relevant to LPG equipment testing.
To comply with legal obligations and enforce our terms of use.

We do not use your data for automated decision-making that produces legal or similarly significant effects on you, and we do not sell your personal information to third parties.

3. Sharing & Disclosure

We may share information in the following limited circumstances:

With the relevant OMC (IOCL/HPCL/BPCL): requisition details and test results may be shared with the OMC that owns the bottling plant, for oversight, quality assurance, and record-keeping purposes.
Between plant and LERC personnel: requisition and sample information is shared with authorized LERC staff involved in receiving, testing, and reporting on the sample.
With service providers: hosting, analytics, cloud storage, SMS/notification, and IT support vendors who process data on our behalf under confidentiality obligations.
For legal reasons: if required by law, regulation, legal process, or governmental request, or to protect the rights, safety, and property of LERC, the OMCs, our users, or the public.
Business transfers: in connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, with notice to you as required by law.

We do not share your personal data with advertisers or data brokers for their own marketing purposes.

4. Third-Party Services

The App may use third-party SDKs or services such as analytics providers (e.g., Firewall/Google Analytics), crash-reporting tools, cloud hosting, and payment gateways (if payments are supported). These providers may collect information as described in their own privacy policies. We select providers that maintain appropriate security and confidentiality standards.

Note to developer: list the exact third-party SDKs/services your app actually integrates (e.g., “Firebase Crashlytics”, “Google Maps SDK”) and link to their policies.

5. Data Storage & Security

Your information is stored on secure servers, with access restricted to authorized personnel. We use industry-standard measures — such as encryption in transit (HTTPS/TLS), access controls, and regular security reviews — to protect your data against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. However, no method of electronic transmission or storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide the Service, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. Requisition and test records may be retained for a reasonable period for audit, quality, or regulatory purposes even after account closure.

7. Your Rights & Choices

Access & correction: you can view and update most profile details within the App’s settings.
Deletion: you may request deletion of your account and associated personal data by contacting us (see Section 12). We will process such requests within a reasonable time, subject to legal retention requirements.
Withdraw consent: you can disable location, camera, or notification permissions at any time via device settings; some features may then be unavailable.
Opt-out of communications: you can opt out of non-essential notifications from within the App.

If applicable data protection laws (such as India’s DPDP Act, or GDPR/CCPA for users in other regions) grant you additional rights, we will honor those rights on request.

8. Children’s Privacy

The App is intended for business use by authorized plants and LERC personnel and is not directed at children under 18 (or the minimum age required in your jurisdiction). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we learn that we have inadvertently collected such information, we will delete it promptly.

9. International Users

If you access the App from outside the country where our servers are located, your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in a different country. We take reasonable steps to ensure such transfers comply with applicable data protection laws.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will post the revised policy with an updated “Last updated” date, and, for material changes, provide additional notice (such as an in-app notification).

11. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal data, please contact us at:

LPG Equipment Research Centre (LERC)
Email: support@lerc.co.in
Address: P.B. No. 1618, Near K R Puram Cable Bridge, Dooravaninagar, Bangalore – 560016, India
Phone: (080) 2561-3145 / 2257 / 4035
Website: lerc.co.in

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