Context:
India did not impose the highest number of Internet shutdowns last year, with Myanmar seeing one additional disruption in 2024, according to a report by advocacy body Access Now. However, the number of shutdowns imposed by the government in charge the Union and State Governments here, and the military junta in Myanmar is still higher in India.
India No Longer the Highest in Shutdowns
- Myanmar instigated the maximum number of Internet shutdowns in 2024 with 85 disruptions. India imposed 84 shutdowns accounting for 28 percent of the global total.
Shutdown Trend in India
- The number of Internet shutdowns in India decreased from the previous year. States with the most shutdowns included Manipur with 21 shutdowns, Haryana with 12 shutdowns, and Jammu & Kashmir with 12 shutdowns.
- The key reasons for shutdowns include 41 related to protests and 23 related to communal violence.
Global Internet Shutdowns’ Highest Records
- This year stood at an all time high of 296 Internet shutdowns recorded worldwide. In Myanmar, several shutdowns were imposed by various actors, involving China, Thailand, and rebel groups.
Shutdowns for Exams in India
These include five shutdowns concerning exams: some examples include Jharkhand on September 22, 2024, shutting down the Internet for 5.5 hours during the government exam, Assam in September 2024 with shutdowns in several districts concerning state job exams, and Rajasthan in January 2024 to cut the Internet for the Rajasthan Public Service Commission exam. Shutdowns have been criticized by advocacy groups, including AccessNow, terming them disproportionate and unnecessary to prevent cheating.
Source: The Hindu
