Updated
Updated · Reuters · Jul 23
India Cuts Mobile Data in Central Delhi as Exam-Leak Protests Over 2 Million Students Intensify
Updated
Updated · Reuters · Jul 23

India Cuts Mobile Data in Central Delhi as Exam-Leak Protests Over 2 Million Students Intensify

3 articles · Updated · Reuters · Jul 23

Summary

  • Central Delhi lost mobile data service on Thursday after the Indian government ordered telecom operators to shut it off around a youth protest site, according to two sources.
  • The blackout hit areas where demonstrators have camped since last month demanding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation over May exam paper leaks.
  • About 2 million students were affected by those leaks, which fueled the protests led by the so-called "cockroach" movement.
  • Reuters journalists found no mobile connectivity in many central districts, while vendors, shopkeepers and restaurants said the outage blocked digital payments.
  • Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone-Idea did not comment, and government and telecom department spokespeople also did not immediately respond.

Insights

India's top court calls internet access a right. So why was it just cut for thousands during Delhi's youth protests?
Beyond silencing dissent, what is the economic fallout when a government-ordered internet shutdown paralyzes digital payments?
How did a satirical 'cockroach' movement become powerful enough to force an internet shutdown in India's capital?