Cancellation and refunds
A ₹499 contest entry can be cancelled for a full refund at any time before the contest closing date. After that date, entries are non-refundable because judging has begun.
Before the closing date
You may withdraw your entry at any time up to the contest closing date and receive a full refund of ₹499, for any reason or none. Write to payments@kathaparva.com from the email address on your account, quoting your payment reference.
Withdrawing removes your story from the contest. You are welcome to enter it again in a later contest.
After the closing date
Once the closing date passes, entries are non-refundable. Judges have begun reading, and the work you paid for has been done. This applies whether or not your story is selected.
When we refund without being asked
- Duplicate payment. If you are charged twice for the same entry, we refund the duplicate in full.
- Failed submission. If a technical fault on our side means your story was never entered, we refund in full.
- Contest cancelled. If we cancel or materially change a contest after you enter, every entrant is refunded in full.
Timelines
| We acknowledge your request | Within 2 working days |
|---|---|
| We approve or explain | Within 7 working days |
| Refund reaches your account | 5 to 7 working days after approval |
Refunds are made to the original payment method through Razorpay. We cannot refund to a different card or account. The time it takes to appear on your statement depends on your bank, not on us.
When we will not refund
- Your story was not selected, or did not win a prize
- You disagree with the judges' decision
- Your entry was disqualified for breaching the contest rules — for example, work that is not your own
- You changed your mind after the closing date
Disputes
If you believe a refund has been wrongly refused, write to the grievance officer named in our privacy policy. Raising a chargeback with your bank before contacting us usually makes things slower, not faster.