India App Ban: The Indian government has taken decisive action by blocking 652 mobile applications due to data security concerns, as announced by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) on March 25, 2026.
In a detailed response to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s inquiry, Minister of State for MeitY, Jitin Prasada, stated that the apps were blocked under Section 69A of the IT Act. This section empowers the government to restrict online content to protect sovereignty, security, and public order. However, specific questions regarding Chinese-origin apps and their rebranded versions were not addressed.
Attempts to ascertain the number of Chinese-origin apps among the 652 blocked were met with silence from IT Ministry officials. China has claimed that since June 2020, India has banned over 300 Chinese apps across various sectors, including social media and e-commerce, according to a WTO meeting dated July 25, 2025.
The initial wave of app bans in June 2020 followed the Galwan Valley clash, heightening tensions between India and China. Apps like TikTok, PUBG, and WeChat were among those banned, with concerns about data being transmitted to foreign servers.
Despite the bans, many Chinese apps have re-emerged in altered forms on app stores, a concern highlighted by Gandhi. In 2022, the Ministry of Home Affairs identified 348 apps transmitting user data without authorization, leading to further bans. The current figure of 652 indicates a significant increase.
On the surveillance front, new CCTV security rules have been introduced, requiring hardware origin disclosure and vulnerability testing. While 507 models are now certified, the government did not disclose procurement details or the security protocols for AI systems in use.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, March 25, 2026
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