The move comes as tension between the two countries escalated after the Galwan Valley clashes on June 15 that left 20 Indian soldiers dead.
The list of 59 apps banned by the government include mostly Chinese mobile apps, including the popular TikTok, UC Browser, Shareit, Viva video, WeChat, among others.
In an official statement, the ministry of information and technology said that it has received many complaints from various sources, including several reports about misuse of some mobile apps available on Android and iOS platforms for “stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users’ data in an unauthorised manner to servers which have locations outside India”.
“The compilation of these data, its mining and profiling by elements hostile to national security and defence of India, which ultimately impinges upon the sovereignty and integrity of India, is a matter of very deep and immediate concern which requires emergency measures,” the statement said.
The clash between the two sides led to calls from various sections of the country to boycott Chinese goods and services as a protest against the Chinese intrusion in the Indian territory. There was also an increasing demand from the people to impose a complete ban on Chinese apps.
The government further said that the ban will ensure the safety and sovereignty of Indian cyberspace and safeguard the interests of crores of mobile and internet users.
(With PTI inputs)
