Refund & Cancellation Policy

Last updated on 19 January 2026

Centre for Scientific Outreach (“CSO”, “we”, “us”) is a not-for-profit organization working to make science and technology accessible to all.

This Refund & Cancellation Policy explains how refunds (if any) are handled for payments made on/through CSO’s website.

1. Payments are processed via a payment gateway

CSO does not collect or store card/banking details on its own servers. Payments are processed through a third-party payment gateway (currently Zoho Payments, as referenced in CSO’s Terms & Conditions).

Where a refund is approved, it is typically returned to theoriginal payment method used for the transaction.

2. What this policy covers

This policy applies to payments made toward:
  • Donations to support CSO’s mission
  • Registrations/fees for CSO programs, workshops, events, competitions, or similar activities (where CSO charges a fee)
  • Any other paid offering listed on CSO’s website/payment link (where applicable)
Because CSO runs limited-seat programs and commits costs in advance (venue, materials, facilitators, logistics), refunds are restricted and may not always be possible.

3. Refund rules by payment type

A) Donations
Donations are generally non-refundable, because they are used to fund ongoing work. Refunds for donations are considered only in limited situations, such as:
  • Duplicate transaction
  • Incorrect amount charged due to a technical error
  • Payment deducted but transaction failed / no confirmation received
Time window: Submit a request within 7 days of the transaction date.
B) Application / Entrance / Assessment fees (if applicable)
If any CSO program uses an application, assessment, or entrance fee, it is non-refundable unless:
  • the amount was charged more than once, or
  • the payment was deducted due to a technical error.
C) Program / Workshop / Event registration fees (paid seats)
If you paid to reserve a seat in a program/workshop/event:
  • Full refund if you request cancellation within 7 days of payment and before the program/event begins.
  • If you request cancellation after 7 days of payment, or after hookup/seat planning has started (whichever comes first), CSO may approve a partial refund or no refund, depending on the situation and costs already committed.
  • No refund once the program/event has started, or once you have attended/participated in any part of it (including an orientation/first session), unless CSO cancels the program/event.
D) If CSO cancels or reschedules
If CSO cancels a paid program/event, you can choose either:
  • a full refund, or
  • transfer your registration to the rescheduled date (if offered).
If CSO reschedules and you cannot attend the new date, CSO may issue a refund (or a credit/transfer option), depending on the nature of the program and vendor commitments.

4. Exceptions (case-by-case)

CSO may consider exceptions in genuine cases such as:
  • Medical emergency (with reasonable documentation)
  • Situations where participation becomes impossible due to circumstances outside your control
Approval is discretionary and evaluated case-by-case.

5. Deductions & charges

If a refund is approved:
  • Payment gateway charges / bank charges (if any) may be deducted and may not be refundable.
  • CSO may also deduct reasonable administrative/processing costs where applicable (especially for seat-based programs).

6. How to request a refund

To request a refund, email us from the same email address used during payment/registration.
Email: info@thecso.in
Subject line (recommended): “Refund Request – [Transaction ID]” Include:
  • Full name
  • Registered email and phone number
  • Transaction ID / payment reference
  • Date and amount paid
  • Purpose of payment (donation / workshop / program name)
  • Clear reason for requesting a refund
  • Any relevant proof (screenshots, receipts, medical note, etc.)
CSO may contact you to verify details before initiating any refund.

7. Refund timeline

If approved, refunds are typically processed within 30 working days from the date CSO confirms eligibility and completes verification (actual timelines can vary by bank/payment method).

8. Contact

For questions about this policy or your payment:
  • Email: info@thecso.in
  • Phone: +91 92112 29927
  • Address: B-1, Third Floor, Greater Kailash Enclave – II, New Delhi - 110048