Banned Apps in India 2025: Full List & Latest Updates
Banned apps in India are once again in the news. In 2025, the government banned several apps in the name of national security and user data protection. Research from India TV News reports that in February 2025, 119 apps, including many popular gaming and social apps, were taken down.
Some apps are trying to make a comeback after getting banned. According to an article by Business Today, the fashion app, Shein, which was forbidden earlier is now making its comeback in India through a partnership with Reliance Retail.
So, what apps are banned now? Why is this happening? How does it impact you? Well, this blog has all the answers to your queries. Keep reading to stay updated!
Table of Contents
Full List of Apps Banned in India
India has become increasingly vigilant in banning apps to protect its citizens in the past few years. The banned apps in India are mostly those that don’t comply with the country’s safety rules, especially regarding data collection and user privacy. Many of those apps were originated overseas, like in China, and raised concerns about how they collect and share personal information.
Social Media Apps
One of the most important advantages of having a mobile tracking application is security. This feature is important for parents who would like to keep an eye on their children or anyone who would like to protect their devices from theft. If your phone gets stolen, it can assist in locating it quickly, preventing further damage or loss.
Improves Parental Control
You may have noticed that some of your favorite social media apps have gone missing. This is because the Indian government determined they were unsafe, in many cases because of the way they dealt with your data.
Apps like TikTok were banned (June 29, 20202) due to allegations of user data being shared with countries outside of India, which raised concerns regarding user privacy. India’s government is trying to ensure that public access to social media is safe without any fear of personal data is at risk.
Gaming Apps
The Indian government had banned over 50 Chinese apps, including popular games Garena Free Fire and Onmyoji Arena due to data security and national sovereignty concerns.
Some games had been found encouraging unhealthy habits, including excessive money spending and addiction. Other games were found to be collecting too much personal data without user consent.
Finance & Banking Apps
The online loan apps which are banned in India are a major problem, as these apps tricked people into taking loans with sky-high interest rates. These loan apps would demand excessive amounts of information and use it in unsafe ways.
The Indian government has made some serious efforts to address the problems caused by unauthorized online loan applications. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) blocked around 94 loan apps due to data theft, tax evasion, extortion, and fraud.
Utility & Productivity Apps
Several utility & productivity apps including ES File Explorer and Clean Master were banned due to privacy and data security concerns. These apps were previously alleged to collect excessive personal information without users’ permission and posing a risk of potential data misuse. To keep users safe, the government has been deleting apps that do not comply with security standards.
Latest Updates on Banned Apps in India
Government Announcements & Notifications
Indian government just recently (February, 2025) banned multiple applications from the Google Play Store over data security and privacy reasons. While the complete list of banned apps in India has not yet been made official, here some applications which are expected to be banned in the next few days.
The first targeted app is ChillChat, a video chat and gaming platform built by Singapore-based Mangostar team, which has more than a million downloads. The next is HoneyCam a photo filter app from Shellin PTY Ltd is also banned. Another app is Blom, a social networking app from China developed by ChangApp.
The government has invoked a law, Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, to block these apps. This law gives the government the authority to block access to specific apps and websites for the sake of national security and public safety. In other words, ensuring apps are not risking the country, or people’s privacy.
Reasons Behind the Ban
The reason why these apps are banned is simple, your data privacy and security. In some investigations, it was found that some apps were gathering your personal data without your permission or even transferring it to servers beyond India. These actions might put your data at risk, which is why the government had to take action to ban those apps.
The aim here is to ensure that the apps you use daily never violate your privacy and follow strict security measures, so that your personal data is safe and well protected whenever you are online.
Legal and Policy Changes
In 2025, there have been significant legal and policy changes that have direct impact on the apps you are using. Now the government expects apps to be completely open about the data that they collect. An app that fails to adhere to these new regulations can be banned.
Also recently, new laws have been introduced to promote the creation of homegrown, Indian social media apps that will offer safer options. These changes are meant to give you better choices for apps that respect your privacy and obey the country’s laws.
Impact of the Ban
These banned apps, like those violating privacy and security standards, should not be present on your device. With Qoli.ai, you can monitor your applications more effectively. Its monitoring features help you block these risky apps, ensuring that your device is protected. Keep your privacy safe by using Qoli.ai to stay in control of the apps on your phone.
Don’t wait! Keep your privacy safe by blocking harmful apps with Qoli.ai today.
Final Words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many apps are banned in India? +
India has banned several apps, particularly those associated with security risk, data misuse or breaching the nation’s sovereignty. Such bans cover a variety of apps, from social media to gaming platforms.
Is Telegram banned in India? +
No, Telegram is not banned in India. However, in the past, its compliance with government regulations surrounding content control and data privacy has come under scrutiny.
Why is TikTok banned in India? +
TikTok was banned in India over user privacy and data security issues. The app was found to be sharing data with servers outside India, violating local privacy rules.
Are Chinese apps banned in India? +
Yes, many Chinese apps have been banned in India due to national security and data privacy concerns. The government have decided to make sure that these apps don’t pose any risks.
What are the games banned in India? +
India has banned several games, including Garena Free Fire and PUBG Mobile. These games have been removed due to concerns over addiction, harmful content and security violations.
Is CapCut banned in India? +
Yes, CapCut has been banned in India. It was removed from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store as part of the government’s ongoing efforts to protect user privacy and national security.