Zeeshan Kaskar 
There was no internet in Manipur for 4,374 hours in 2023, which is approximately half a year. This was revealed in a report analysing internet shutdowns in India between January 2023 and December 2024.
The Software Freedom Law Center’s report titled ‘Let The Net Work 2.0’ states that India witnessed 96 instances of internet shutdown in 2023 and 60, in 2024. It also stated that a small number of states dominate internet shutdowns in India, with Haryana leading in 2024 and Manipur in 2023.
India has consistently reported the highest number of internet shutdowns globally, with state authorities citing reasons such as public safety, prevention of misinformation, and national security concerns. However, these disruptions have profound socio-economic, political, and legal implications, affecting millions of citizens, businesses, and essential services, the report states. For example, during the Manipur internet shutdown, many people couldn’t access digital banking services, leaving them without money for basic needs.
Rules ignored
The legal framework governing internet shutdowns in India, as outlined in the 2017 Rules and the updated 2024 Rules, mandates that every shutdown order must be a reasoned order with a clear justification. The law permits suspensions only under exceptional circumstances – threats to national security, public order, or incitement to violence. But in reality, these rules are rarely followed. Shutdown orders across states routinely cite vague and templated justifications.
For instance, two shutdown orders in Manipur dated November 8, 2023 and November 23, 2023, used the same generic statement:
“There is apprehension that some anti-social elements might use social media extensively for transmission of images, hate speech and hate video messages inciting the passions of the public which might have serious repercussions for the law and order situation in the State of Manipur.”
These are merely two of many other such orders which are similar, if not verbatim, the report says.
Key states
Manipur
In 2023, Manipur witnessed an alarming 36 internet shutdowns, resulting in a total blockade of 4,374 hours. A significant portion of these shutdowns were preventive, aimed at controlling tensions before escalations, while others were reactive, imposed in response to ongoing violence. The longest single shutdown lasted 360 hours (15 days) in December.
Most of the shutdowns were mobile internet-only, but several also included broadband suspensions. The impact was widespread, affecting access to emergency services, communication, and daily activities, deepening the crisis in an already volatile state, the report stated.
Haryana
The northern state experienced 11 internet shutdowns in 2023, totalling 593 hours of suspension. A majority of these were preventive measures, particularly in Nuh district, imposed in anticipation of communal violence.
Bihar
Unlike Manipur and Haryana, Bihar’s internet shutdowns in 2023 were primarily linked to examination security. The Bihar government imposed a shutdown on July 27, 2023, aimed at preventing cheating during recruitment exams.
Changing trend
In India, internet shutdowns happen in two ways – preventive and reactive. Preventive shutdowns are enforced before any major incident, based on the assumption that cutting off digital communication will help maintain law and order. Reactive shutdowns, however, come after an event has already occurred, often in response to protests, communal tensions, or security concerns.
Whether preventive or reactive, the report states that these internet blackouts continue to deepen socio-economic hardships, especially in states like Manipur, Jammu and Kashmir, and Haryana, which have seen the highest number of shutdowns in recent years.
The Let The Net Work 2.0 report highlights serious concerns regarding the lack of transparency and accountability in internet shutdowns, despite the Supreme Court’s ruling in Anuradha Bhasin v. Union of India. The report states that while this ruling established the “principles of necessity and proportionality in restricting internet access,” its implementation remains “inconsistent, with limited transparency and accountability.”
A fundamental flaw, according to the report, is “the lack of a proportionality requirement when issuing shutdown orders.” Since internet suspensions directly impact fundamental rights, the report emphasises the need for “a legislative mandate on proportionality” to ensure that shutdown decisions are made “with due consideration for the broader impact.” It further recommends that “authorities justify shutdowns based on empirical evidence and explore alternative measures before imposing restrictions.”