The primary mission of bits&bytes™ is getting ambitious teenagers to build and ship software without financial barriers.

• Free Hackathons & Events: All official student hackathons, online sprints, Discord community spaces, Minecraft builder environments, and local guild meetups are 100% free for eligible student attendees.
• No Hidden Fees: We do not charge registration fees, application fees, or evaluation fees for student participation in our core hackathons.
• Meals & Materials: At physical hackathons, meals, drinks, stickers, and event badges are provided free of cost to registered attendees, subject to venue capacity and safety rules.

GOBITSNBYTES FOUNDATION operates strictly as a Section 8 non-profit company. In accordance with Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013 and Clause 5 of our e-MOA:

• Application of Funds: All financial contributions, grants, and donations received are applied exclusively towards educational workshops, open-source tooling, infrastructure, student travel stipends, and non-profit community programs.
• No Dividends: No portion of the Foundation's income is paid or transferred by way of dividend, bonus, or profit to any members or directors.
• Donation Policy: Because donations and charitable contributions are immediately committed to ongoing student programs, compute grants, and event logistics, voluntary donations made to GOBITSNBYTES FOUNDATION are generally non-refundable once processed and official receipts are issued.
• Duplicate or Erroneous Transactions: If you experience a technical error resulting in a duplicate donation, please notify finance@gobitsnbytes.org within 7 calendar days of the transaction. Verified duplicate charges will be refunded in full.

From time to time, bits&bytes™ or local Forks may organize specialized masterclasses, industry summits, or branded merchandise offerings where nominal fees apply:

3.1 Cancellation by Participant

• Advance Notice (7+ Days): If a participant cancels their registration at least 7 calendar days before the scheduled start date of a ticketed event or workshop, they are entitled to a full refund minus any third-party payment gateway transaction processing fees.
• Late Cancellation (Under 7 Days): Cancellations submitted fewer than 7 days prior to the event are non-refundable, as operational resources, seating, and mentor commitments are locked in advance.
• Participant Transfer: Participants who cannot attend may request to transfer their ticket to another eligible student builder up to 48 hours prior to the event by contacting events@gobitsnbytes.org.

3.2 Cancellation or Rescheduling by the Foundation

• Event Cancellation: If an event or workshop is cancelled by GOBITSNBYTES FOUNDATION due to force majeure, venue unavailability, or safety considerations, all registered paying participants will receive a 100% refund to their original payment source.
• Rescheduled Dates: If an event is postponed or rescheduled, participants will be given the choice between attending on the rescheduled date or requesting an immediate full refund.

All authorized refunds are processed through approved banking and payment gateway channels (such as Razorpay or direct bank transfer):

• Payment Method: Refunds will be credited exclusively to the original payment method (original bank account, UPI ID, or credit/debit card) used during the transaction.
• Processing Time: Once approved by our finance team, refunds are typically initiated within 2 business days and will reflect in the payer's account within 5 to 7 business days, subject to bank processing cycles.
• Cash Payments Prohibited: In accordance with our Financial Controls Policy (Terms of Service Section 5), GOBITSNBYTES FOUNDATION never issues cash refunds or processes transactions via unverified personal accounts.

Before initiating a bank chargeback or dispute, we encourage supporters and participants to contact us directly:

• Direct Resolution: Contact our finance team at finance@gobitsnbytes.org with the transaction reference, date, and payer details. We resolve billing disputes promptly and transparently.
• Statutory Consumer Rights: Nothing in this policy limits or affects your statutory rights under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 or the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020.

For billing questions, refund claims, duplicate charge reviews, or payment issues:

• Entity: GOBITSNBYTES FOUNDATION (Section 8 Non-Profit Company | CIN: U85500UP2026NPL248652)
• Email: finance@gobitsnbytes.org / hello@gobitsnbytes.org
• Grievance Redressal: grievance@gobitsnbytes.org
• Registered Office: 265/1 Patrakar Colony, Ashok Nagar, Prayagraj - 211001, Uttar Pradesh, India
• Operational / Creator Base: Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India