Free Discovery Session Policy

A Free Discovery Session is an introductory meeting designed to help a Student and Mentor understand whether they are a good fit before beginning a paid mentorship journey. It is not intended to replace paid mentorship or provide comprehensive mentoring.

• Only Mentors who voluntarily enable Free Discovery Sessions may receive such bookings.
• A Student may book no more than one Free Discovery Session with the same Mentor.
• If a Mentor later disables the feature, no new Free Discovery Session may be booked with that Mentor.
• Previously confirmed bookings remain valid unless cancelled under the applicable policies.

Only 15-minute, 20-minute, and 30-minute durations are permitted.

The maximum duration is 30 minutes. The booked session entitlement ends at the scheduled end of the selected slot; neither party is entitled to additional time.

The Student pays the flat convenience fee, plus GST on that fee where SarthiLink™'s platform-wide GST configuration applies it — nothing more. It covers platform operations including booking management, payment processing, reminders, and infrastructure. It is not payment to the Mentor, and any applicable GST is shown with the price at checkout, exactly as it is for any other session.

Free Discovery Sessions are excluded from promotional benefits. Welcome offers, referral coupons, Mentor referral rewards, loyalty rewards, promo or discount codes, wallet credits, cashback campaigns, and future promotional campaigns do not apply unless SarthiLink™ expressly states otherwise in writing.

Free Discovery Sessions use the Mentor's normal availability calendar and occupy slots in the same way as paid bookings. A Mentor may not be double-booked for that time.

Students should use the session for:

• Introductions and discussion of the Student's study background
• Discussion of goals and possible strategy
• Understanding the Mentor's style and clarifying expectations
• Determining whether the Student and Mentor are compatible

The session is not intended for:

• Complete syllabus planning
• Detailed answer-writing evaluation
• Full or continuous mentorship
• Continuous doubt solving
• Replacing paid mentorship services

Mentors must join on time, act professionally, respect the duration, provide honest guidance, and help the Student assess whether continued mentorship would be beneficial.

Mentors must not mislead Students, extend a session solely to solicit paid bookings, make unrealistic promises or guarantees, or misrepresent credentials or likely outcomes.

Students must join on time, respect the Mentor's time, behave professionally, participate in good faith, and use the session only for its intended purpose.

Students must not abuse free consultations, record or distribute a session without all required consent, or engage in harassment or inappropriate behaviour.

Unless expressly stated otherwise, Free Discovery Sessions follow the standard Booking & Rescheduling Policy and Refund & Cancellation Policy, including the standard cancellation, rescheduling, and no-show rules. Those policies are incorporated by reference rather than duplicated here.

If a Student repeatedly misses Free Discovery Sessions without cancelling in accordance with platform policies, SarthiLink™ may restrict that Student's access to future Free Discovery Sessions. If a Mentor repeatedly misses such sessions, SarthiLink™ may disable the feature for that Mentor or take other appropriate action.

The ₹50 convenience fee (plus GST, where applicable) is governed by the Refund & Cancellation Policy. If a booking is cancelled or refunded, eligibility and processing follow that standard policy; this policy does not create separate refund rights.

A Free Discovery Session does not obligate either party to continue. A Student may book a paid session, purchase an available mentorship programme, choose another Mentor, or end the interaction. A Mentor may decline future mentorship if they believe they are not the right fit.

A Student may review a Free Discovery Session only where SarthiLink™ makes reviews available for that booking type. Otherwise, review eligibility remains governed by the platform's existing review rules.

Free Discovery Sessions are governed by the Privacy Policy, Platform Terms & Conditions, Session Recording Policy, and Community Guidelines. This policy creates no additional privacy or recording permissions.

SarthiLink™ may investigate or suspend abuse, remove fraudulent bookings, disable the feature for individual Mentors or Students, modify eligibility requirements, update this policy, or discontinue Free Discovery Sessions. Material policy changes will be reflected by an updated version and date.

SarthiLink™ facilitates introductions between Students and independent Mentors. It does not guarantee academic success, examination outcomes, Mentor selection, compatibility, or future mentorship engagement. Students must make independent decisions when selecting a Mentor or paid service.