Regional shutdown
Mobile Internet
National Capital Territory of Delhi
The Ministry of Home Affairs has ordered the suspension of mobile Internet services around a 1.5 km radius of Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, from 9:30 to 16:00 on 23 July 2026. The order was issued citing public safety, emergency prevention, and maintaining public order.
- Total Duration 2 days, 7 hours
India
- Population
- 1,463,865,525
Freedom House rates Internet freedom as Partly Free
Local impact
Reuters reports that commuters' journeys and businesses have been disrupted in India's national capital as authorities have shut metro stations and blocked mobile Internet services amid protests demanding the resignation of the education minister over exam leaks.
One small roadside tea seller told by the Indian Express, “My business is down. People usually rely on UPI for making small purchases, but because the internet is not working, I am unable to accept those payments.”
These orders were extended four times by the Union Home Secretary to midnight on 23 July 2026, 12:00 on 24 July 2026, midnight on 24 July 2026, and midnight on 25 July 2026.
Amid these disruptions, reports indicate that the government has ordered GitHub to remove repositories of an offline messaging app that runs over Bluetooth, which protesters have been using to coordinate during the shutdown.
Related documentation
The Ministry of Home Affairs issued the following shutdown orders under clause (b) of sub-section (2) of section 20 of the Telecommunication Act, 2023, clause (b) of sub-rule 1 of Rule 2, and sub-rule 1 of Rule 3 of The Telecommunications (Temporary Suspension of Services) Rules, 2024.
Other supporting information
It’s difficult to measure the effects of local/regional Internet shutdowns, as most measurements are conducted at the country level. Learn more.
Social media
The Ministry of Home Affairs has imposed an internet shutdown within a 1.5 KM radius of Jantar Mantar in Delhi, starting from 4:00 PM till 12 AM on 23rd July 2026. #KeepItOn #LetTheNetWork pic.twitter.com/5nJdOQ2Jc4
— InternetShutdowns.in (@NetShutdowns) July 23, 2026
Update: The mobile internet shutdown in and around Jantar Mantar has been extended through 25th July 2026, marking another day of disrupted access to communication and information.#internetshutdown #KeepItOn #LetTheNetWork https://t.co/mHgZVx1nr4 pic.twitter.com/c35ieGTU4d
— InternetShutdowns.in (@NetShutdowns) July 25, 2026
Statement : The blocking of BitChat's code on GitHub is unconstitutional and authoritarian.
— Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) (@internetfreedom) July 24, 2026
New Delhi, 24 July 2026
The Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) condemns the order issued by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), Ministry of Home Affairs, directing GitHub… pic.twitter.com/s3wdJEOPK7