Cookie Policy
This Cookie Policy explains how [ail_legal field=”site_name”] uses cookies and similar browser storage, and how you can control them. It should be read together with our Privacy Policy.
1. What cookies are
Cookies are small text files a website stores in your browser. Similar technologies include local and session storage. They can be first-party (set by us) or third-party (set by another company whose content appears on our pages).
2. How we ask for your consent
When you first visit, a banner lets you accept all cookies, reject all non-essential cookies, or choose by category. Nothing non-essential is set until you make a choice, and closing the banner without choosing means non-essential cookies stay off. You can change your mind at any time:
[ail_cookie_settings]
3. Cookies we use
Strictly necessary (always on)
ail_consent— records the cookie choices you made in the banner, and when. Lifetime: 6 months. First party.comment_author_*— only if you tick “save my details” when posting a comment, so you do not have to re-type them. Lifetime: about 1 year. First party.wordpress_*,wp-settings-*— set only for staff who log in to manage the site. Lifetime: session to 1 year. First party.ail_sand_seen(session storage, not a cookie) — remembers that the short sand animation has already played in this visit so it does not replay on every page. Cleared when you close the browser.
Analytics (only with your consent)
If we enable an analytics service, its script loads only after you accept analytics cookies. Such services set cookies (for example _ga and _ga_* for Google Analytics, lifetime up to 2 years) to count visits and understand which stories are read. Data may be processed outside India by the analytics provider.
Embedded content (only with your consent)
Articles may embed videos, social-media posts or maps from third parties such as YouTube, Vimeo, X or Google. We show a placeholder instead of the embed until you choose to load it. Once loaded, the provider may set its own cookies and receive your IP address; their privacy policies apply.
4. Other third-party requests
Our typefaces may be delivered from Google Fonts, and comment avatars from Gravatar. These services receive your IP address when a page loads but do not set cookies through our site.
5. Managing cookies in your browser
You can also block or delete cookies through your browser settings. Blocking strictly necessary cookies may stop parts of the site, such as comment forms, from working. Instructions for common browsers: Chrome, Safari, Firefox and Edge each provide a “Privacy” or “Cookies” section in their settings.
6. Contact
Questions about cookies can be sent to our Grievance Officer:
[ail_grievance_officer]