Internet Shutdowns

• Past

  Regional shutdown

  Fixed and Mobile Broadband, VPN services

  Manipur

  Manipur authorities ordered Internet service providers to suspend “internet and mobile data services including VSATs, broadband (ILL & FTTH) and VPN services” in the Imphal West, Imphal East, Bishnupur, Thoubal, Kakchina, Kangpokpi, and Churachandpur districts. This shutdown follows an intensification of protests in the region. Manipur, a state of 3.7 million people, has been embroiled in ethnic clashes and subsequent Internet shutdowns since May 2023.In 2023, the residents of Manipur faced a seven-month shutdown. Despite aiming to curb violence, the 2023 Manipur Internet shutdown “did the opposite, cutting people’s access to essential public services and leading to unspeakable chaos.” Internet shutdowns during protests or civil unrest impact citizens' ability to get accurate information from government sources when they need it most. It also becomes harder for citizens to contact family members and friends in other parts of the country or in other countries.

  India

  • Start 16 November 2024 5:15 p.m.
  • End 9 December 2024 5:15 p.m.
  • Total Duration 44 days
• Past

  Regional shutdown

  Bomraspet, Dudyala, and Kodangal

  There are reports that Internet services were suspended without warning in Dudyala, Kodangal, and Bomraspet mandals in the Vikarabad district of Telangana on 11 November as part of a late-night police operation.

  India

  • Start 11 November 2024 12:00 a.m.
  • End 13 November 2024 12:00 a.m.
  • Total Duration 2 days

October 2024

• Past

  Regional shutdown

  Mobile Internet

  Assam

  Assam State authorities ordered mobile Internet services to be suspended across all 35 districts on 27 October 2024, between 8:30 and 16:00 (local time) to avoid malpractice during government recruitment examinations. This follows similar orders for exams held on 15 and 29 September.

  India

  • Start 27 October 2024 8:30 a.m.
  • End 27 October 2024 4:00 p.m.
  • Total Duration 7 hours
• Past

  Regional shutdown

  North Tripura, Tripura

  Tripura authorities ordered the suspension of mobile Internet and SMS services in North Tripura district for 72 hours amid 'communal tensions'. There are reports that orders were extended for 36 hours, though no official announcement has been made.

  India

  • Start 15 October 2024 5:00 p.m.
  • End 18 October 2024 5:00 p.m.
  • Total Duration 3 days
• Past

  Regional shutdown

  Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh

  Authorities in Uttar Pradesh are reported to have ordered the suspension of mobile and fixed Internet services in Bahraich district amid communal clashes.

  India

  • Start 14 October 2024 12:00 a.m.
  • End 17 October 2024 12:00 a.m.
  • Total Duration 3 days

September 2024

• Past

  Regional shutdown

  Assam

  Assam State authorities ordered mobile Internet services to be suspended across all 35 districts on 29 September 2024, between 8:30 and 16:30 (local time) to avoid malpractice during government recruitment examinations.

  India

  • Start 29 September 2024 8:30 a.m.
  • End 29 September 2024 4:30 p.m.
  • Total Duration 8 hours
• Past

  Regional shutdown

  Odisha

  Odisha authorities ordered mobile Internet services to be suspended across the Bhadrak and Dhamnaghar districts for 48 hours from 28 September 2024 to prevent the spread of inflammatory messages in the wake of community unrest sparked by a social media post.

  India

  • Start 28 September 2024 8:00 a.m.
  • End 2 October 2024 12:00 a.m.
  • Total Duration 3 days, 16 hours
• Past

  Regional shutdown

  Jharkhand

  Jharkhand State authorities ordered mobile Internet services to be suspended across the state on 21 and 22 September 2024, between 8:00 and 13:30 (local time), to avoid malpractice during the General Graduate Level Combined Competitive Examinations.

  India

  • Start 22 September 2024 8:00 a.m.
  • End 22 September 2024 1:30 p.m.
  • Total Duration 5 hours
• Past

  Regional shutdown

  Jharkhand

  Jharkhand State authorities ordered mobile Internet services to be suspended across the state on 21 and 22 September 2024, between 8:00 and 13:30 (local time), to avoid malpractice during the General Graduate Level Combined Competitive Examinations.

  India

  • Start 21 September 2024 8:00 a.m.
  • End 21 September 2024 1:30 p.m.
  • Total Duration 5 hours
• Past

  Regional shutdown

  Assam

  Assam State authorities ordered mobile Internet services to be suspended across 28 of the state's 35 districts on 15 September 2024, between 10:00 and 12:00 and 14:00 and 16:00 (local time) to avoid malpractice during the written examination for Class-III government post. Similar orders were given in August 2022 for the Class-III (21 August) and Class-IV (28 August) government post exams but were not during the last exam day on 11 September 2022. These orders come despite a petition in March 2022 to the West Bengal High Court challenging a government move to suspend internet services to control cheating in the Madhyamaik Examinations. from which the court acknowledged but stayed the order. According to a report, the court disposed the matter by saying, “The Rule of 2017 are required to be complied with and the Supreme Court has already laid down the law which is binding under Article 141 of the Constitution, hence, we express hope that while issuing any such order in future, the State authorities will duly comply with the same.” According to the Internet Freedom Foundation, this was an important judgement by the High Court because it would be useful when persuading states to follow the law on internet suspension.

  India

  • Start 15 September 2024 10:00 a.m.
  • End 15 September 2024 1:30 p.m.
  • Total Duration 3 hours