Glossary of Indian dating and matchmaking terms.

Aarohi Credits

Aarohi Credits are the unit of value men use inside Aarohi Club. One bundle (starting at ₹999) covers multiple actions: profile unlocks (15 credits each), introduction requests (25 credits), messaging unlocks (50 credits), matchmaker intro requests (200 credits), and online event tickets (100 credits). Credits do not expire as long as the account is active.

Anonymous browsing

Also: Invisible profile mode, Invisible by default

On Aarohi, women are invisible by default. Men cannot browse, search, or otherwise discover women's profiles. The only path to a woman's profile is for the matchmaker to introduce them. The woman sees the man's profile first, accepts, and only then does the man see hers.

Background-checked dating

Background-checked dating refers to platforms that perform substantive identity and employment verification before granting access. Aarohi's background check for men includes government-issued photo ID, employment verification via LinkedIn or company email, a written screening, and a final human review by the female curation team.

Bespoke matchmaking

Also: Concierge matchmaking

Bespoke matchmaking is a model in which each member is assigned a dedicated matchmaker who personally selects matches based on detailed preferences. Aarohi operates as a bespoke matchmaking service: every introduction is hand-picked, with a personal note explaining why the match was made.

Concierge dating

Concierge dating is the umbrella term for services where the member doesn't browse, swipe, or do their own filtering. Aarohi is a concierge service: the matchmaker discovers, vets, and introduces. The member only acts on accept/pass decisions.

Cross-border matching (NRI)

Cross-border matching is the practice of connecting members across geographic markets. Aarohi treats India, the UK, and the UAE as one connected pool for members who opt into cross-market introductions. This is particularly common for NRI members who maintain ties across multiple countries.

Curated matchmaking

Curated matchmaking is the practice of having human matchmakers, not algorithms, select potential matches based on detailed preferences, written screening, and reviewed profiles. It contrasts with algorithmic dating apps (Bumble, Hinge, Tinder) where matches are surfaced via an automated feed.

Curation team

The curation team is composed of women who screen male applications end-to-end. Every man who reaches a woman's screen has been personally reviewed by at least one curator. The team also serves as the appeal layer for safety reports.

Curator (Aarohi)

Curators are members of Aarohi's female-led curation team. They read every male application, review the written screening answers, verify the ID and employment evidence, and make the final approve/decline decision. Their sign-off is one of the four required gates for a man to gain access.

Desi dating

"Desi dating" is colloquial shorthand for the category of apps and services serving the Indian and broader South Asian diaspora. Examples include Dil Mil and Aisle. Aarohi sits in this category but differs by being curated and women-first rather than swipe-based.

Employment verification

Employment verification at Aarohi requires the applicant to demonstrate current employment through LinkedIn (linked and active) or a verifiable company email address. It is one of the four mandatory gates for male applicants.

Government ID verification

Government ID verification at Aarohi requires a passport, national ID, or equivalent government-issued photo identification. The document is checked against the application name and photo. It is one of the four mandatory gates for male applicants.

Human matchmaking

Human matchmaking is the use of trained matchmakers, rather than recommendation algorithms, to select matches for members. Aarohi is a human matchmaking service: every introduction is hand-selected, never algorithmically generated.

ID-verified dating

ID-verified dating is the segment of dating products that mandate government-issued ID verification before access. Aarohi mandates ID verification for every man. Most mainstream dating apps (Tinder, Bumble, Hinge) offer photo verification as optional, not as a mandatory access gate.

Indian diaspora dating

Also: NRI matchmaking, NRI dating

Indian diaspora dating refers to services built around the global Indian community living outside India, primarily the UK, US, UAE, Canada, Australia, and Singapore. Aarohi specifically serves the India ↔ UK ↔ UAE axis with built-in cross-border matching for members who opt in.

Introduction package

An introduction package is a fixed-deliverable matchmaking purchase. Aarohi's packages range from Spark (3 introductions, ₹14,900) to Concierge (40 introductions, ₹1,49,900). Each introduction is sent by the matchmaker as a profile dossier with a personal note. If the delivery timeframe isn't met, the package is fully refundable.

Invisible-by-default

Invisible-by-default is Aarohi's core privacy posture. A woman's profile cannot be discovered, searched, or browsed by men. The only mechanism through which a man sees her profile is for her to accept an introduction that the matchmaker has surfaced. She retains the unilateral decision.

LinkedIn verification

LinkedIn verification is the most common method Aarohi uses to confirm employment. The applicant connects their LinkedIn account or provides the profile URL; the curation team verifies that the role is current and consistent with the application.

Marriage-track dating

Marriage-track dating is a middle ground between casual dating and formal matrimonial matching. The member is open about marriage as the eventual goal, but evaluates partners individually and on their own timeline, without family-led intermediation. Aarohi supports the full spectrum from serious dating to marriage-track, calibrated to the member's stated intent.

Match credits

See Aarohi Credits.

Matchmaker

In Aarohi's model, a matchmaker is a human team member assigned to a cohort of women. Her role is to read each member's preferences, review the verified male pool, and select introductions she believes will resonate, with a personal note explaining her reasoning.

NRI matchmaking

Also: Indian diaspora dating, Indian diaspora matchmaking

NRI (Non-Resident Indian) matchmaking refers to matchmaking services for Indians living outside India and for connecting NRIs with members in India. Aarohi has NRI matchmaking built in: members in the UK, UAE, and India can opt into cross-border introductions during profile setup.

Onboarding screening

Onboarding screening is the structured intake every member completes during sign-up. For women, this captures preferences, intent, dealbreakers, and lifestyle. For men, this also includes ID upload, LinkedIn / employment verification, and a written screening that the curation team reads in full.

PCI-DSS Level 1

PCI-DSS Level 1 is the most stringent compliance tier of the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, required of merchants processing more than 6 million card transactions annually. Aarohi uses Stripe (PCI-DSS Level 1 certified) for all payment processing and does not store card details itself.

Pre-introduction screening

Pre-introduction screening is the four-gate verification process every Aarohi man passes before being eligible for introduction. The gates are: government ID verification, employment verification, written screening questionnaire, and final curator sign-off. End-to-end time: 24–48 hours.

Profile vetting

Profile vetting is the human review step in Aarohi's onboarding. Every male profile is read in full by a curator before the member is eligible to be introduced. This is in addition to automated ID and employment checks.

South Asian dating

South Asian dating is the broadest categorical label, covering services that serve the entire South Asian region and diaspora. Aarohi is specifically built around the Indian and Indian-diaspora community rather than the full South Asian audience.

Verified-only dating

Verified-only dating means access is gated by verification: no unverified profiles appear in the pool. Aarohi is verified-only for men: no introduction can be made without all four verification gates being passed. Women are verified by the matchmaker during onboarding (identity and basic context).

Women-first dating

Women-first dating describes products built around women's safety, comfort, and agency by default, not as opt-in features. Aarohi is women-first across the stack: profiles are invisible by default, women see male profiles before men see theirs, and the matchmaker mediates rather than the man initiating contact.