Internet Shutdowns

• Past

  Regional shutdown

  mobile Internet, public WIFI

  Poonch and Rajouri District

  Local authorities ordered mobile Internet and public WiFi services to be suspended in Poonch and Rajouri District of Jammu Province, India, on 7 February  from 00:10 to 23:30 local time to prevent misuse of these services by 'anti-national elements/miscreants, which may cause deterioration in public order.' According to reports, this action was taken following the government of India’s decision to grant Scheduled Tribe status to Paharis, Padari, Koli, and Gadda Brahmins for reservations in the Union Territory. Internet shutdowns during protests or civil unrest impact the 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 other countries.

  India

  • Start 7 February 2024 00:10 UTC
  • End 7 February 2024 23:30 UTC
  • Total Duration 23 hours

January 2024

• Past

  Regional shutdown

  Rajasthan

  The Regional Commissioner Bhawar Lal Meena ordered Internet services to be suspended in several districts of Rajasthan, India, on 7 January from 10:00 to 15:00 local time to prevent malpractices surrounding the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) examination. According to one report, 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G Internet services, along with SMS, MMS, WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, and other social media services, were suspended. As we have repeatedly written about on Pulse, Internet shutdowns cause great harm to a country’s economy and society and are, in our opinion, NOT the appropriate mechanism to cope with potential exam cheating.

  India

  • Start 7 January 2024 10:00 UTC
  • End 7 January 2024 15:00 UTC
  • Total Duration 5 hours

December 2023

• Past

  Regional shutdown

  Poonch and Rajouri

  Authorities ordered mobile Internet services to be suspended in Poonch and neighboring Rajouri district in the Jammu and Kashmir region from 23 to 30 December 2023 as a precautionary measure to check rumor-mongering and prevent any law and order problem following a conflict in the region. Internet shutdowns during protests or civil unrest impact the 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 other countries.

  India

  • Start 23 December 2023 00:00 UTC
  • End 30 December 2023 00:00 UTC
  • Total Duration 7 days

November 2023

• Past

  Regional shutdown

  mobile Internet

  Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir

  Local law officials have ordered mobile Internet to be suspended in parts of Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir for security reasons. The original order was for 48 hours but it was extended twice and finished on 11 November 2023. Internet shutdowns during protests or civil unrest impact the ability of citizens 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 3 November 2023 00:00 UTC
  • End 11 November 2023 00:00 UTC
  • Total Duration 8 days
• Past

  Regional shutdown

  Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh

  On 1 September, officials ordered for Internet services to be suspended in Saharanpur, a city and a municipal corporation in Uttar Pradesh, following public tensions.

  India

  • Start 1 November 2023 00:00 UTC
  • End 2 November 2023 00:00 UTC
  • Total Duration 1 day
• Past

  Regional shutdown

  Mobile, Broadband

  Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra

  There are reports of an Internet shutdown being ordered for 48 hours in rural parts of Chhatrapati, Sambhajin following incidents of arson, rioting, and protest.

  India

  • Start 1 November 2023 00:00 UTC
  • End 2 November 2023 00:00 UTC
  • Total Duration 1 day

October 2023

• Past

  Regional shutdown

  Beed, Maharashtra

  Reports indicate that officials have ordered for Internet services to be suspended for 48 hours in parts of Maharashtra’s Beed district as part of an imposed curfew after public protests. Internet shutdowns during protests or civil unrest impact the ability of citizens 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 30 October 2023 00:00 UTC
  • End 1 November 2023 00:00 UTC
  • Total Duration 2 days
• Past

  Regional shutdown

  Chhapra, Bihar

  Reports indicate that officials have ordered Internet services to be suspended for 48 hours in the city of Chhapra in the state of Bihar to prevent public unrest following a clash during a religious procession.

  India

  • Start 27 October 2023 00:00 UTC
  • End 28 October 2023 00:00 UTC
  • Total Duration 1 day

September 2023

• Past

  Regional shutdown

  Mobile Internet, VPNs

  Manipur

  Orders for mobile Internet and VPNs to be suspended in Manipur, India, were reissued three days after they were lifted following a 142-day Internet shutdown. The new orders were first issued for a period of five days following the news of the deaths of two children, which resulted in violence. The orders have been extended several times. [Update] On 3 December 2023, the Manipur State Government removed the Internet shutdown in most parts of the state, citing improved law and order. According to a report, specific conflict areas remain under continued restrictions until 18 December. Mobile towers catering to services within a 2-kilometer radius along adjoining areas between districts, including Chandel and Kakching, Churachandpur and Bishnupur, Churachandpur and Kakching, Kangpokpi and Imphal West, Kangpokpi and Imphal East, Kangpokpi and Thoubal, as well as Tengnoupal and Kakching, will still face suspended operations.

  India

  • Start 26 September 2023 00:00 UTC
  • End 3 December 2023 00:00 UTC
  • Total Duration 68 days
• Past

  Regional shutdown

  Mobile Internet

  Haryana

  Mobile Internet services were suspended in Nuh in the Haryana district on 15 September 2023 for four days after local authorities imposed a curfew under Section 144 following communal violence and to stop the spread of misinformation and rumours following the arrest of Congress MLA Mamman Khan. Internet shutdowns during protests or civil unrest impact the ability of citizens 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 15 September 2023 10:00 UTC
  • End 19 September 2023 23:59 UTC
  • Total Duration 4 days, 13 hours