Regional shutdown
mobile Internet
Ajmer, Bharatpur, Bikaner, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, and Udaipur
Rajasthan State Service Selection Board has requested the Government of Rajasthan to suspend mobile Internet services in Jaipur on 27 February 2023, from 6:00 to 18:00.
- Total Duration 12 hours
India
- Population
- 1,438,069,596
Freedom House rates Internet freedom as Partly Free
Local impact
The request was to curb cheating during the schoolteacher recruitment examinations (also known as the REET exams), which will be held on 25—27 February. Internet shutdowns during exams are a disproportionate and ineffective measure to prevent cheating. By restricting access to the Internet, governments not only disrupt essential services but also create a culture of fear and uncertainty. The negative impact of these shutdowns extends far beyond the exam period, normalizing the idea that Internet access is a privilege that can be revoked at any time.
Related documentation
The below screenshot is the request by the Rajasthan State Service Selection Board of the Government of Rajasthan to suspend Internet services in 7 districts, including Ajmer, Bharatpur, Bikaner, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, and Udaipur on 25 and 26 February 2023 from 6:00 to 18:00 each day and only in Jaipur on 27 February 2023 during 6:00 to 18:00.
Other supporting information
It’s difficult to measure the effect of local/regional Internet shutdowns as most measurements are done at a country level. Learn more
Social media
"Several people in Jaipur were caught off guard after they began getting text messages from their cellular services providers that internet services have been stopped as per the government order in the afternoon." Times of India
Media coverage
"Several people in Jaipur were caught off guard after they began getting text messages from their cellular services providers that internet services have been stopped as per the government order in the afternoon." Times of India