Refund & Cancellation Policy

Meritshot Zetta Edutech Private Limited — Refund and Cancellation Policy

1. Preamble and Applicability

This Refund and Cancellation Policy ("Policy") governs all enrolments in the programmes, courses, bootcamps and allied services ("Programme") offered by Meritshot Zetta Edutech Private Limited ("Meritshot", "the Company", "we", "us"). This Policy forms part of the Terms of Enrolment and is binding on every learner upon payment of any amount towards a Programme, whether described as registration fee, seat booking amount, admission fee, or programme fee (collectively, "Fee").

This Policy is framed with due regard to the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020, and the guidelines issued by the Central Consumer Protection Authority on unfair trade practices in the education and coaching sector, and is intended to set out, in clear and unambiguous terms, the limited circumstances in which a refund may be claimed and the manner of computation of any such refund.

2. Nature of the Programme and Allocation of Resources

The Programme comprises live instruction, recorded content, Learning Management System ("LMS") access, mentorship, academic support, placement assistance, assessments, projects, career services and allied digital resources. Meritshot commits academic, administrative, technological and human resources to each learner from the moment of enrolment, including but not limited to seat reservation, batch planning, verification of the learner, creation of an LMS account, academic onboarding, and allocation of a mentor.

These resources are committed irrespective of whether the learner subsequently attends or utilises the Programme, and the Fee structure set out in this Policy reflects the cost actually and irrevocably incurred by Meritshot in making such allocation.

3. Registration or Seat Booking Amount

The registration or seat booking amount collected at the time of enrolment is separately identified in the Fee break-up provided to the learner and is non-refundable and non-transferable in all circumstances, including where a refund of the balance Programme fee is granted under Clause 4. This amount represents genuine pre-estimated costs of seat reservation, batch planning, learner verification, LMS account creation, academic onboarding and mentor allocation, and does not constitute a penalty.

4. Cancellation Window and Eligibility for Refund

A learner who has completed payment of the Fee may seek cancellation of enrolment and a refund of the Programme fee, exclusive of the registration amount and the cancellation charge specified in Clause 6, subject to the cumulative satisfaction of each of the following conditions:

• (a) the learner submits a written request for cancellation, addressed to the designated email address of Meritshot, within seven (7) calendar days of the date of full payment of the Fee or the scheduled date of commencement of the Programme, whichever is earlier ("Cancellation Window");
• (b) the learner has not accessed any part of the LMS, including recorded sessions, downloadable material, assignments, quizzes, templates or other Programme resources;
• (c) the learner has not attended any live class, induction, demo, orientation or onboarding session conducted in respect of the Programme; and
• (d) the request is accompanied by such proof of identity and enrolment as Meritshot may reasonably require to verify eligibility.

Where any of the above conditions is not satisfied, the request for refund shall not be entertained, and the Fee already paid shall stand appropriated towards the resources and services rendered or allocated under Clause 2 and Clause 3.

5. Refund on Account of Non-Placement After Programme Completion

A learner who has completed the entirety of the Programme, meaning the learner has attended all live classes, and submitted all assignments, assessments, projects and capstone work required for successful completion, and who has not been offered any placement opportunity within six (6) months of the date of such completion, shall be eligible to seek a refund of the Programme fee, exclusive of the registration amount and the cancellation charge specified in Clause 6.

6. Cancellation Charges

Where a refund becomes payable under Clause 4, Meritshot shall be entitled to deduct, in addition to the non-refundable registration amount, a cancellation charge of Rs. 25,000 (Rupees Twenty-Five Thousand only), representing the genuine pre-estimated costs already incurred by Meritshot towards the learner specifically, computed as follows:

• Counselling by academic counsellors — Rs. 8,000
• LMS account creation and academic onboarding — Rs. 8,000
• Mentor support and allocation — Rs. 5,000
• Demonstration session or induction — Rs. 4,000

This amount is levied strictly as reimbursement of costs actually incurred and not as a penalty for exercise of the right to cancel.

7. Commencement of Services

The Programme shall be deemed to have commenced upon the earliest occurrence of any of the following: activation of LMS access; conduct of orientation; learner access to learning material; commencement of live classes; allocation of a mentor; access to recorded sessions; or access to placement preparation resources.

Commencement of services in any of the above forms shall, for the purposes of Clause 4, constitute utilisation of the Programme and shall render the learner ineligible for refund of the Programme fee, regardless of whether the Cancellation Window has expired.

8. Deferral in Lieu of Refund

Where a learner is otherwise ineligible for a monetary refund under this Policy, Meritshot may, at its sole and absolute discretion, and without creating any obligation, right or precedent, offer the learner a batch transfer, a temporary deferral of the Programme, an academic pause, or a credit towards another eligible Programme, in lieu of a monetary refund.

9. Placement Assistance Disclaimer

Placement assistance is one component of the Programme and is limited to the provision of interview opportunities, preparatory resources and industry connect. No refund shall arise merely because a learner is not shortlisted for an opportunity, is unsuccessful at an interview, declines an interview opportunity, does not receive the salary the learner expected, or because prevailing market or hiring conditions change. Meritshot does not guarantee placement, employment or any particular compensation to any learner.

10. Cancellation by Meritshot

Where Meritshot permanently discontinues a Programme prior to its commencement and is unable to offer the learner an equivalent batch or a reasonably suitable alternative, the Programme fee paid shall be refunded, exclusive of statutory deductions, applicable taxes, and the non-refundable registration amount referred to in Clause 3.

A reasonable rescheduling of dates, or change of faculty, timetable, batch composition or mode of delivery, shall not by itself constitute cancellation of the Programme by Meritshot and shall not entitle a learner to a refund under this Clause.

11. Manner and Timeline of Refund

All requests for refund shall be verified by Meritshot against the eligibility criteria set out in this Policy prior to approval. Refunds found eligible shall ordinarily be processed within fifteen (15) to thirty (30) business days of approval, subject to the processing timelines of the concerned bank or payment gateway, and shall be credited only to the original mode and source of payment, or to such other mode as Meritshot may reasonably determine where the original mode is unavailable.

12. Governing Law and Interpretation

This Policy shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of India, including the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 and the rules and guidelines framed thereunder. Meritshot's determination as to eligibility for refund, computation of the refundable amount, and the documentary requirements for a refund claim shall be final, save that nothing in this Policy shall be construed to derogate from any non-derogable right available to a learner as a consumer under applicable law.