In recent years, internet censorship in India has become more prevalent, and political censorship is at an all-time high. Through website blocking, harassment of journalists, and AI-generated online manipulation, freedom of expression and access to information are severely limited.
Moreover, websites, apps, and international news are frequently made inaccessible. To keep your online data safe and access independent information, our cybersecurity experts in India recommend using a VPN. This encrypts your data and unblocks censored content.
It’s key to use a VPN that doesn’t keep any user information. The best VPN for India right now is NordVPN, thanks to its lightning-fast speeds and wide server network.
NordVPN
Since NordVPN is a verified zero logs VPN, India’s new data retention laws won’t be much of an issue. Read our full article below to find out more.
In light of the upcoming 2024 Indian elections, freedom of expression is no longer a given in “the world’s largest democracy.”
Reporters Without Borders confirms that censorship in India is progressing rapidly, with journalists coming increasingly under attack and new technologies, like deepfakes, threatening to distort the truth and shape the free flow of information.
Our cybersecurity experts on the ground in India warn against government tracking and suggest users in India install a VPN to access unfiltered news. We recommend NordVPN for its fast, reliable VPN server network spanning 111 countries. You can get an additional 72% off when you use our exclusive link below:
Below, we catch you up to speed when it comes to censorship and the upcoming elections. Our team members in India also break down the best VPNs to protect yourself against online manipulation and government surveillance.
Media Freedom in India: Building Up to the 2024 Elections
Between March and May of 2024, India’s population of 1.4 billion people will elect a new government. In the lead-up to the elections, the Modi government has doubled down on political dissent in a variety of ways.
On paper, the Indian Constitution might grant the right to freedom of speech and the right to gather information. However, with AI manipulation of propaganda and increased harassment against journalists, media freedom is in decline.
Restrictions on press freedom
Throughout 2023, media ownership has become more centralized than it already is. Thousands of outlets are in the hands of only a handful of companies: Times Group, HT Media Ltd., The Hindu Group, and Network18. What’s more, the media is politically partisan and is supposed to act as an extension of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BPJ).
As such, independent media outlets in India do not enjoy extensive freedom. In 2024, India dropped from place 150 to place 161 on the Reporters Without Borders Freedom Index. Organizations such as Freedom House and India’s Internet Freedom Foundation also continue to signal alarm.
Attacks on journalists
With the 2024 elections just around the corner, journalists are under attack for reporting critically on the Indian central government or the BJP. These attacks include both physical violence and online harassment campaigns by corrupt officials and criminal groups. Modi has made it clear that journalists are seen as “intermediaries” between him and his constituents, who “pollute” the relationship with his supporters.
Religious and ethnic minorities are most vulnerable to harassment. In 2022, 100 female Muslim journalists, activists, and politicians were listed as “for sale” on a fake auction app.
Journalists operate in what can only be described as a climate of fear. Within India, they are forced to self-censor or face repercussions, while Indian journalists abroad are threatened with losing their Overseas Citizen of India card and being unable to return.
Digital and social media censorship
While the online media landscape in India has allowed for more diverse debate, strict internet censorship is still enforced.
According to India’s Information Technology Act, any content that can be considered a threat to the “unity, integrity, defense, security or sovereignty of India” is considered objectionable. On social media, this results in a high degree of content removal. On top of that, the BJP runs coordinated efforts to target and troll the opposition and participates in the active distribution of misinformation.
For the general elections of 2024, another tool has been added to the mix: deep fakes.
Deepfakes and AI-generated manipulation
In India, AI-generated videos are becoming more and more widespread, especially in anticipation of the 2024 general elections. The BJP, the most technologically sophisticated party in the country, deploys deepfakes to influence voters.
As such, manipulated media is threatening to shape the general elections: video and audio get altered to target political opponents.
Moreover, the more advanced these AI-generated videos become, the more difficult it becomes for viewers to discern which are real and which are fake. As of now, Indian laws do not clearly cover deepfakes.
With AI being used to distort the truth and create a pro-Modi narrative, our experts on the ground recommend that Indian citizens use VPNs if they wish to access independent news.
NordVPN is the ideal VPN for users in India, thanks to its fast servers and advanced security features, including a kill switch and dedicated IP addresses, that help keep government spying at bay.
Why Does India Censor the Internet?
Indian authorities claim that India’s legislation, primarily the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, is aimed at increasing cyber security. As such, organizations are ordered to report any issues concerning server infrastructure or data breaches.
While this is useful to a certain extent, this type of regulation is actually a thinly veiled attempt at keeping control over the free flow of information. For most governments, this is the prime goal of censorship, and India is no different.
Since his election, Prime Minister Modi has deliberately built an online ecosystem that benefits his party. Indian governments use arbitrary legislative measures to limit opposition and political criticism.
Self-censorship
Self-censorship is not uncommon in India. With increased threats to people’s safety, it’s difficult to express any dissent. TV channels will drop certain interviews if the content can be seen as disparaging of the government. Entertainment channels decide not to air satirical content that imitates political leaders.
In the Jammu and Kashmir region, the degree of self-censorship is even higher. The same goes for ethnic and religious minorities.
At the same time, in an attempt not to succumb to the pressure of forced silence, independent outlets and ordinary citizens continue to speak publicly about sensitive issues, current affairs, and politics. The safest way to protect your identity online is by using a VPN.
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What Content is Being Censored?
The parameters that determine whether content is considered a threat to Indian society are quite vague. More and more topics have come under fire, though generally, they tend to fall into one of the following categories:
Political criticism
Anti-India sentiment is generally not tolerated in Indian media. Political information can be blocked by court and government orders.
Existing laws on the free flow of information have been hollowed out over the years, paving the way for the 2024 general elections. As of now, the Press Information Bureau can take down any news they consider to be “fake.”
On top of that, Freedom House claims that Modi proponents (bhakts) promoting pro-government sentiment online and targeting anyone who dares to disagree through terrifying harassment and hate speech campaigns.
Moreover, Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code outlines punishment for sedition. The parameters are so vague that they may be interpreted at will, putting large groups of people at serious risk.
Social media platforms
Social media companies and internet platforms suffer extensively from censorship by Indian government agencies. Big tech companies are regularly asked to remove posts that express criticism of Indian Prime Minister Modi or the way the Indian regime executes its policies.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the government was quick to censor any criticism of the way it handled the pandemic.
Pornographic content
Viewing adult content in private spaces is not illegal in India. It falls under the right to personal liberty. Pornographic websites, however, are considered to violate a “morality and decency” clause in the Indian constitution that justifies restrictions on free speech.
In the past, internet service providers have been ordered to ban 800+ pornographic websites. Right now, both the publication and transmission of pornographic material are being targeted. If you share “obscene material,” you may be punished with a three- to five-year jail term.
How Does India Censor the Internet?
There are various methods of censorship that the Indian government employs to censor the internet.
National internet shutdowns
The most drastic and effective way to block access to certain content is by shutting down the internet altogether. India is responsible for the highest number of national internet shutdowns in the world.
By shutting down the internet, Indian authorities prevent people from accessing vital information online, such as their finances, medical records, or educational services. On top of that, people are kept away from important information on current affairs.
The region of Jammu and Kashmir suffers disproportionately. They’ve experienced more internet shutdowns than any other area in the country.
Internet service providers
Another main method of censorship is ordering an internet service provider to block certain websites. The Indian government has ordered bans for tens of thousands of websites, all based on protecting national security.
Again, websites that have political opposition or pages advocating for the rights of minorities are disproportionately targeted. Internet companies use DNS spoofing to return incorrect pages for certain DNS queries.
Orders to private businesses
Social media intermediaries that operate in India, such as Twitter (X), Facebook, or YouTube, can be ordered to ban content or remove it completely.
In April 2022, new cybersecurity legislation was made public. All tech and internet companies active in India have to report regularly on any cyber issues they encounter. This requires them to provide broad insight into their functionality and give up loads of user data.
Social media content removal
In particular, Indian government officials try to keep social media companies under tight control. Any content that might be critical or activist in nature might get flagged.
Big tech companies may be required to give up information on how and from where certain posts are published. This puts people’s privacy at serious risk.
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Manipulation of content
The Oxford Internet Institute has classified India as a nation using manipulated information to amplify a certain political agenda.
Besides the deep fake technology that’s employed in the current 2024 elections, commentators (both paid and voluntary) are hired to spread propaganda and shape public opinion. Pro-BJP accounts are tasked with hijacking Twitter trends.
By limiting or manipulating what information people can or cannot access online, the Indian government attempts to hold greater sway over public opinion.
Surveillance and collection of user data
The Telegraph Act allows Indian authorities to surveil communications. On top of that, the government is suspected of using Israeli spy software, Pegasus. This type of spyware can access a device’s microphone or camera remotely.
With regard to personal data, the Indian government is also growing increasingly invasive, and tracking has become more common. Companies that have more than 5 million registered users — a low threshold in India — must allow users to “voluntarily” provide personal data to verify their accounts.
Apps and Websites Blocked in India
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has the power to ban sites. The number of social media platforms, news channels, video streaming services, and popular websites that are banned in India keeps increasing.
While the full list of banned sites is too extensive to include, the table below provides an overview of the most commonly used apps and websites that are currently censored in India.
| BLOCKED SITE | STATUS |
|---|---|
| BBC | Occasionally blocked |
| DuckDuckGo | Occasionally blocked |
| Censored | |
| GitHub | Permanently unavailable |
| Google (Drive, Maps, Docs, Gmail) | Occasionally blocked |
| HBO | Permanently unavailable |
| Censored | |
| Likee | Permanently unavailable |
| New York Times | Occasionally blocked |
| Occasionally blocked | |
| Pornhub | Permanently unavailable |
| Occasionally blocked | |
| Snapchat | Occasionally blocked |
| The Pirate Bay | Permanently unavailable |
| TikTok | Permanently unavailable |
| Tinder | Occasionally blocked |
| Twitch | Occasionally blocked |
| Censored | |
| Vimeo | Occasionally blocked |
| Wayback Machine | Permanently unavailable |
| Permanently unavailable | |
| WeTransfer | Permanently unavailable |
The websites above detect Indian users by reading their IP addresses. If a banned website recognizes an Indian IP address, it then prevents you from accessing its contents.
Fortunately, you can easily get around these restrictions by using an IP address from elsewhere in the world. For example, you can connect to a VPN server in the US to access websites banned in India.
A VPN in India should have good server location variety so users have options to choose from. NordVPN has 6441 servers in 111 countries. You can get it for only $ 3.39 per month by using our exclusive link:
Jammu and Kashmir Region: Increased Restrictions
The Jammu and Kashmir region is a region that’s been subject to political disputes between India, Pakistan, and China for decades.
In 2019, the previously autonomous status accorded to this region was evoked, with the Parliament of India placing Jammu and Kashmir back under Indian constitutional law.
Since then, media in the region, both online and offline, have been heavily restricted. Journalists are under threat for their reporting, facing interrogation, physical threats, restrictions on freedom of movement, and violence.
Warning:
Attempts to circumvent censorship with a VPN in the Jammu and Kashmir region may be met with force. The police have been reported to confiscate and inspect people’s smartphones for VPN software. Our team members in Indian recommend extra caution if you’re in this region.
How to Get Around Censorship in India
To circumvent censorship and get access to independent digital news platforms, many Indian citizens use a virtual private network (VPN), especially because of the 2024 elections.
A VPN creates an encrypted tunnel between you and the internet. Your real IP address is hidden, and your data is kept private. It also allows you to unblock international news websites and apps.
In India, tech companies, including VPN providers, are required to register the following data:
- Customer names
- Customer ownership patterns
- Customer contact information (including the reason for purchase)
Many VPN providers have started removing their servers from India because they can’t comply with these new rules. However, VPN providers are generally known to push back against these types of measures.
Moreover, these rules won’t affect VPN services that do not keep any user data in the first place. These VPNs are so-called no-log VPNs. We discuss these in detail in our section on the best VPNs for India.
Is using a VPN in India legal?
VPNs are not illegal in India, even under the new Indian law. Unlike countries like Iran and North Korea, there is no ban on VPN providers.
However, the new cybersecurity law is a clear example of the way the Indian government is making it increasingly difficult to access a VPN. Moreover, using a VPN for any illegal activity doesn’t suddenly make that activity legal.
The Indian police have been known to harass people, especially those who are too critical of the government or who frequent activist internet platforms. Always be cautious of your online activities, even when using a VPN.
What Makes a Good VPN for India?
Several of our cybersecurity experts are based in India. When selecting a VPN for India, they recommend paying attention to a couple of key characteristics:
- Strong encryption: The VPN should offer the latest encryption protocols, including WireGuard and OpenVPN.
- Logging policy: No-logs VPNs are recommended, as they don’t store any data about your activity.
- Obfuscation features: Obfuscation helps you circumvent strict censorship controls.
- Server network: A VPN with a wider server network gives you more options to unblock international content.
The Best VPNs for India
Whether you’re a citizen in the country or visiting India as a tourist, you need a reliable and secure VPN that does everything within its power to secure your privacy. For this reason, we recommend the following three VPNs for India:
1. NordVPN: Best VPN for India overall
Features:
- Large server network: 6441 servers in 111 countries
- Affordable plans for the highest level of security
- RAM-only servers and a verified no-log policy
- Easy-to-use apps for various devices
NordVPN is the best VPN of the moment and your safest, most reliable option in India. While NordVPN has pulled its servers from India, our experts on the ground confirm that the VPN works perfectly well; you can use NordVPN to access independent news and browse privately.
The NordVPN app is extremely easy to use! It comes with a wide range of security features, including DNS leak protection, Double VPN (extra layer of encryption), and Threat Protection against malware and hacking.
Moreover, thanks to its RAM-only servers, your data is completely safe and can’t be tracked or requested by government agencies. Right now, you can get 72% off your NordVPN plan and a 30-day money-back guarantee if you make use of our exclusive offer.
Want to know more before you sign up? Have a look at our extensive NordVPN review, where we test and assess all its features.
2. Surfshark: Cheap VPN on unlimited devices
Features:
- Strict no-log VPN with RAM-only servers
- 3200+ servers in 100 countries, including virtual servers in India
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- Fantastic mobile apps for Android and iOS
Surfshark is one of the few VPNs that still has servers located in India. These servers are extremely useful for users who need an Indian IP address but don’t want to expose their real IP. Surfshark’s Indian servers are virtual servers physically located in Singapore, the Netherlands, and the UK.
In terms of security, Surfshark outperforms most providers. Besides its AES 256-bit encryption, an automatic kill switch, and fantastic VPN protocols, Surfshark has a special NoBorders mode, designed for regions with high levels of censorship.
On top of that, Surfshark is a verified zero-logs VPN that doesn’t store any data on user activity. Even if the company is forced to surrender data, it’ll have no user data to hand over to the authorities.
With plans starting at $ 2.19 per month, Surfshark is a fantastic VPN for India.
There’s a 30-day money-back guarantee on all Surfshark plans, giving you a chance to try Surfshark VPN for yourself. You can read more about how the VPN fared in our extensive Surfshark review.
3. ExpressVPN: Secure and user-friendly India VPN
Features:
- Independently audited multiple times
- Virtual servers in India (real locations in Singapore and the UK)
- User-friendly apps for all devices
- Secure protocols: OpenVPN, L2TP, WireGuard, and Lightway
ExpressVPN is known for its high level of security. For that reason alone, we recommend it, but the VPN also has more to offer. ExpressVPN is one of the few VPNs that still has virtual servers in India. It also has a server network spanning 105 countries, so you can unblock almost any international website and app you want.
With ExpressVPN, user data is protected by its thorough and transparent privacy policy. It’s a real no-logs VPN, so you don’t need to worry about your data being tracked.
The VPN provider offers all the features you need, including obfuscation on its servers. This will hide the fact that you’re using a VPN. We also like that ExpressVPN is easy to use, making it perfect for first-time VPN users.
ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. But if you’re still not convinced, you can read more about our experience with ExpressVPN in our ExpressVPN review.
Best Free VPN for India (Use With Caution!)
While you might be tempted to choose a free VPN over a premium VPN, there are some considerations to keep in mind:
- Weak security: Free VPNs often use lax security protocols.
- Limited servers: You only have a few servers to choose from.
- Data caps: You only have limited data volume.
However, there are some great free VPNs out there. We’d like to highlight one in particular.
Proton VPN: Best Free VPN for India
ProtonVPN comes with a free subscription that offers decent security and unlimited bandwidth. It provides users with industry-standard 256-bit encryption, as well as the renowned OpenVPN protocol.
The provider has a zero-logs policy and even offers a kill switch, which keeps your data safe in case your VPN connection unexpectedly drops.
For free users, the server network is very small: Japan, the United States, and the Netherlands. Still, this will allow you to unblock plenty of content from India.
A solid cybersecurity and privacy package for just $4.49/month!
- Strong encryption
- Specialized servers
- Free subscription available
VPN Doesn’t Work? Try These Circumvention Tools Instead
The Indian government exercises a great deal of power over tech companies, including VPN providers. At times, you might find the website of your VPN provider inaccessible.
This is why it’s good to be aware of alternative tools you can use.
Tor
The Tor browser is an anonymous browser that gives you access to the Dark Web. However, it’s also often used as a tool to bypass censorship restrictions.
Tor provides multiple layers of encryption for your data, completely anonymizing it in the process. Popular websites you might be trying to reach, such as BBC News, even have special Tor versions.
Browser extensions
If you’re looking for ways to access dynamic online content, such as social media apps, you can try using a special browser extension. The following extensions are all designed to unblock social networks:
- UltraSurf (Chrome)
- Censor Tracker (Firefox)
While we do recommend using a VPN as the safest and most reliable way to get around censorship, there are many other ways to bypass restrictions.
Get Around Growing Censorship in India
Press freedom in India has become increasingly limited. In politically charged times, such as the upcoming general elections of 2024, censorship reaches new peaks.
Besides blocking websites, suppressing free speech, and conducting surveillance, deep fake technology is now employed to shape the flow of information and target political opposition.
On top of that, increasingly strict cybersecurity legislation forces tech companies to collect and store user data. If you want to protect your privacy and access independent sites, you’re going to need to use a VPN.
We highly recommend NordVPN as the best VPN for India. You can access blocked content, browse privately, and get access to over 6441 servers in 111 countries. Grab our exclusive offer below:
For more information about censorship and using a VPN, we recommend the following related articles:
- Facebook Restrictions Abroad: How to Bypass Them
- How to Get Around a TikTok Ban: Access TikTok From Anywhere
- Censorship in Pakistan: How to Get Around Online Restrictions
Are you worried about using a VPN in India? Do you want to know more about censorship? Check out our FAQ below to get some answers.
Yes, the internet in India is censored, and increasingly so. Cybersecurity legislation has led to mass content removal and made it less safe for journalists and ordinary citizens to express their opinion freely online.
Social media companies have been ordered to delete tens of thousands of posts that are critical of the Indian government. The use of AI-generated content has also made the flow of information unreliable, in light of the 2024 Indian elections.
While it’s possible to use a VPN in India, tech companies, including VPN services, are required to store and keep user data for troubleshooting purposes. This data is stored for a period of five years. The government should be able to get access to this data upon request.
However, a good no-logs VPN provider won’t have any data in the first place to give up.
Yes, VPNs are legal in India. However, it’s not legal to use a VPN to conduct illegal online activity. Sharing pornographic content, for example, is still illegal, even with a VPN.
Since the election of Prime Minister Modi, the Indian government keeps social media under tight control. This is done to shape public opinion and prevent free debate on sensitive topics. Accounts that are critical of the authorities risk being banned.
