India blocks thousands of websites under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act — a legal provision that allows the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to order ISPs to block sites deemed a threat to national security, public order, or sovereignty. Beyond government-level blocks, millions of Indian users encounter a second layer of restriction on university campuses and workplace networks where content filters add hundreds more platforms to local blocklists. This guide covers which sites are currently blocked in India, why, and how to check whether any specific site is accessible from your connection.
How Website Blocking Works in India
India’s blocking system operates through three distinct mechanisms. Government orders under Section 69A instruct all licensed ISPs to block specific URLs or entire domains — compliance is mandatory and ISPs face penalties for non-compliance. Court orders from High Courts and the Supreme Court represent a second route, frequently used by copyright holders to block torrent and piracy sites. Additionally, the Department of Telecommunications issues blocking orders related to telecom regulations.
When a site is blocked at the ISP level in India, your device’s DNS query returns no result (DNS blocking) or the connection is refused at the IP level (IP blocking). Some ISPs display a block page; others simply show a connection timeout. Consequently, it can be difficult to tell whether a site is blocked or simply down. Use the Website Blocked Checker tool to instantly distinguish between a blocked site and a down site from your specific connection.
Major Sites and Apps Blocked in India (Current List)
Chinese Apps and Platforms (Banned Since 2020)
Following the 2020 India-China border conflict, the Indian government banned 59 Chinese apps under Section 69A, citing data security concerns. Subsequent orders expanded this to over 300 apps and their associated websites. These include:
- TikTok — banned June 2020, the most high-profile ban
- WeChat — messaging and payment platform
- UC Browser — previously one of India’s most popular mobile browsers
- ShareIt, CamScanner, Club Factory — utilities with large Indian user bases
- PUBG Mobile (original version) — the game was later relaunched as Battlegrounds Mobile India under new terms
- AliExpress and other Alibaba services
Torrent and Piracy Sites
Indian courts — particularly the Madras, Delhi, and Bombay High Courts — have issued hundreds of blocking orders against piracy sites at the request of film studios and music labels. The Piracy Block List maintained by ISPs includes thousands of URLs and is regularly updated. Commonly blocked include The Pirate Bay, 1337x, YTS, and their mirror domains. New mirror domains appear frequently, and courts issue rolling orders to add them to blocklists.
Social Media During State-Level Internet Shutdowns
India holds the world record for the highest number of government-ordered internet shutdowns. During these shutdowns — which occur most frequently in Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, and Manipur — social media platforms including Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram are frequently throttled or blocked as part of broader restrictions. These are temporary and geographically specific but affect millions of users during active shutdown periods.
Other Notable Blocked Sites
| Site / Platform | Block Type | Current Status |
|---|---|---|
| Pornographic websites (900+) | Government order 2015, 2018 | Blocked on most ISPs |
| Certain VPN provider sites | Periodic ISP blocks | Varies by ISP |
| Sci-Hub | Court order (academic piracy) | Blocked by court order |
| 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare DNS) | Blocked by Jio in 2022 | Partially restored |
| Telegram (briefly) | Court order 2022 — brief | Currently accessible |
| Various Pakistani news sites | Government security orders | Blocked |
University and College Network Blocks in India
Beyond government-level blocks, Indian universities and colleges run their own content filtering systems that create a second layer of restrictions affecting millions of students daily. IITs, NITs, central universities, and private colleges typically block social media platforms, streaming services, gaming sites, and communication platforms on campus Wi-Fi.
Commonly blocked on Indian campus networks include YouTube, Instagram, Reddit, Discord, Netflix, online gaming platforms, and in many cases popular job sites and coding platforms. Each institution’s list differs. The fastest way to check what is blocked on your campus network specifically is to use the Website Blocked Checker from your campus Wi-Fi connection and again from mobile data — the difference between the two results shows you exactly which blocks are network-level.
How to Access Blocked Sites in India
For sites blocked at the ISP level under government orders, a proxy or VPN routes your traffic through servers outside India, bypassing the DNS and IP-level blocks your ISP enforces. BlockAway provides free browser-based access to most blocked sites without any installation. For campus network blocks, switching to mobile data is often the simplest solution — your carrier’s network does not apply the university’s content filters.
- Check if a site is blocked: Website Blocked Checker
- Access blocked sites through proxy: BlockAway Proxy
- Check your current IP and ISP: IP Address Checker
- Test your connection speed: Proxy Speed Test
Frequently Asked Questions
How many websites are blocked in India?
The exact number is not publicly disclosed by the government. Estimates from digital rights organisations place the number of blocked URLs in India at over 50,000 — including government orders under Section 69A, court orders for piracy sites, and emergency shutdown-related blocks. The number grows regularly as new court orders are issued for piracy site mirrors and new government orders target additional content.
Is it illegal to access blocked sites in India?
For most blocked sites, no — individual users are not prosecuted for accessing blocked content through proxies or VPNs. The legal orders target the ISPs, not the end users. However, accessing sites that are blocked for national security reasons or distributing content that is banned could carry legal risk. For ordinary blocked social media, news sites, and streaming platforms, individual user access through a proxy has no enforcement history in India.
Why is TikTok still blocked in India in 2026?
TikTok’s ban under Section 69A issued in June 2020 remains in effect. The ban was justified on national security and data sovereignty grounds related to the India-China border situation. As of 2026, there has been no official reversal, though diplomatic relations between India and China have shown signs of gradual normalisation. ByteDance (TikTok’s owner) has not received approval to relaunch TikTok in India under new structural arrangements, unlike the PUBG Mobile case which was resolved through a local partnership.
Does my ISP know if I access blocked sites through BlockAway?
Your ISP can see that you connected to BlockAway’s servers. It cannot see which specific sites you accessed through the proxy — that traffic is encrypted. Your ISP does not know you accessed a blocked site; it only knows you used a proxy service. Currently, Indian ISPs do not monitor or report individual proxy usage to authorities.
