Internet Shutdowns in India from 2012 to 2024

Internet shutdowns in India have increased dramatically over the last thirteen-year period from 2012 to 2024. In 2012, India experienced just three internet shutdowns, but this number grew exponentially and peaked at 136 shutdowns in 2018—representing a staggering 45 times increase from 2012 levels. This rapid escalation is particularly evident in the period between 2015 and 2018, when the annual count rose from 14 to 136, showing that the practice became increasingly normalized as a governance tool.

After the 2018 peak, the number of shutdowns fluctuated but remained significantly higher than pre-2017 levels. There was a slight decline in 2019 to 109 shutdowns, followed by another increase to 132 in 2020. The period between 2021 and 2022 showed a downward trend, with 100 and 77 shutdowns, respectively, potentially indicating growing awareness of the economic and social costs of these disruptions. However, 2023 saw a reversal of this trend with 96 shutdowns, suggesting continued reliance on this measure despite international criticism.

In 2024, India reported 60 shutdowns, which is almost 40% less than the total shutdowns reported in 2023. Overall, the pattern suggests that while internet shutdowns may have become slightly less frequent compared to the 2018-2020 period, it remains a common phenomenon in India. This trend raises important questions about the balance between security concerns and digital rights, the economic impact of such disruptions, and India’s approach to internet governance in an increasingly digitalized society.