Is VPN Legal in India? Understanding the Rules and How You Can Stay Secure

So… are VPNs banned in India?

Despite there are rumors and misleading headlines in the news saying
“VPN restrictions in India” or “India VPN policy cracks down on providers” – there is NO such a decision that India is banning VPNs. Virtual Private Networks are legal to use within this country as long as you don’t engage in activities that violate Indian VPN laws.

The point is that the government’s recent VPN regulation has changed the way some VPN providers operate in the country. Guidelines by the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) now force any VPN company with servers physically located in India to log and store user data (like IP addresses, contact information, and purpose of use) for five years, even after a user cancels their subscription.

As a response, many major VPN providers decided to remove their physical servers from India. But there is a solution – VeePN offers users “virtual” servers located outside of India and provides robust service without violating a law. We will cover this point in a bit. 

Where the confusion comes from

Some VPN users mistakenly conclude that all VPN usage is penalised. The reality is more tricky. The government is clamping down on the potential misuse of VPNs, but not on every VPN user. This can be compared to driving a car. It becomes an issue only in case you’re violating traffic rules or using that car for some illicit purposes. The same is with VPN usage in India.

Privacy threats due to a VPN regulation in India 

Why should you worry if VPN is not banned? Well, because these “data retention mandates” in practice means you will be identified to  use India-based VPN servers. Let’s take a closer look: 

High risk of exposure

If a VPN provider stores your data, it can be leaked or hacked anytime. We’ve seen data breaches happen even at world-known organizations like Microsoft, Facebook, Real Estate Wealth Network, and many others. Why can’t it happen to your VPN provider? 

Government can get access

Authorities can request your logs from VPN providers. We know governments usually trot out the claims, saying it’s to combat cybercrime. But what can ultimately stop them from excessive surveillance?

5-year data storage

VPN Providers are forced to log your name, real IP address, and other info each time you connect to a physical Indian server. They are forced to keep users’ data for 5 years and be ready to share this information with the government if the latter demands. 

These things can take place when you use VPN servers physically located in India. But there is a solution – using a “virtual” VPN server outside the country. Having said that, let’s consider why you may need using a VPN: 

Why you need a VPN in India

Here is how you can benefit from using VPN: 

Bypass censorship

The Indian government famously banned TikTok, WeChat, PUBG Mobile, and a host of other apps due to the country’s strict policies. A VPN helps you hop over such firewalls and browse freely.

Overcome geo-restrictions

If your favorite streaming service locks certain shows to a particular region, you can easily “teleport” to that region with a VPN. This can be accessing local Indian content if you’re an Indian abroad or checking out foreign content right from your home in Mumbai or Delhi.

Avoid surveillance

Governments in countries with strict censorship laws (like India, China, and) are increasing online oversight and want to know more about users. By encrypting your Internet traffic, a VPN masks your digital trail so that prying eyes can’t snoop into your browsing sessions.

Secure your online transactions

With online scams rampant, you need robust VPN encryption to protect yourself. A VPN creates a safe tunnel for all your banking transactions, credit card details, and other sensitive data.

Prevent ISP throttling

Internet Service Providers (ISP) sometimes slow down your connection if they see heavy bandwidth usage, especially when you’re streaming high-quality video content or playing games. By hiding your Internet activities, a VPN makes sure your ISP can’t single you out for throttling.

Protect data on public Wi-Fi

Airports, hotels, and cafes often offer free public Wi-Fi networks. But those usually contain cyber risks. Your connection becomes unreadable through a VPN service, so hackers lurking on the same network can only see gibberish instead of your data.

Privacy while traveling

A VPN enables Indians traveling abroad and foreign visitors to maintain their online privacy and securely access their favorite websites and banking apps without risks. 

Now that you know the purpose of using a VPN, let’s set the requirements for a good VPN provider so you can decide which one to choose. 

Key criteria for choosing a VPN in India

Taking the updated India VPN policy into account, it’s really important to pick the right provider that complies with updated regulations and provides a robust service. Here’s a quick quality checklist for VPN providers:

Strict No Logs policy

Don’t want any records tied back to you, right? Choose a VPN provider with a robust No Logs policy that doesn’t store your online activities and IP address. 

Servers outside Indian jurisdiction

Because of the logging rules for physical Indian servers, choose a reliable provider like VeePN that operates “virtual” Indian servers from safer privacy-friendly regions. Using such a provider won’t bring any legal issues. 

High-standard encryption 

Trustworthy VPNs offer strong protocols like WireGuard, and the best standard encryption up to date – AES-256-bit. 

Transparent pricing and reliable support

Your provider should offer a range of plan options. You can check out VeePN pricing plan details to see how easy it is to tailor the service to your needs.

Still, with so many VPNs out there, not all of them are the same. 

Beware of free VPNs

You may be tempted to go for a free VPN, but keep in mind that “free” often implies other costs. 

Weak encryption or no encryption at all 

Hackers or ISPs might still intercept your traffic.

Compromised personal data

Providers often make money by selling user data to advertisers. It is not exactly the best way to keep your connection private, isn’t it? 

Risk to get malware

You opt for security, but the very VPN can ironically be the risk you’d want to avoid. Free VPNs may contain vulnerabilities and expose users to malware and attacks.

Slow connection speeds and data limits

Free VPNs often have data limits and can slow down your Internet connection speed. Such a browsing experience can be frustrating, with unbearable loading times and potential interruptions.

Limited server options

Free services might only have servers located within India, which could open you up to all the logging requirements.

Poor unblocking content

Free VPNs often fail to bypass geo-restrictions.  So,  they may not work properly and give you access to the content blocked in your region. Why then use VPN at all? 

So, free cheese is only in a mousetrap, agree? You’ll get more secure and consistent performance with a paid service like VeePN. Read more if you want to know about paid VPN vs free extension options.

Why VeePN is your perfect solution

If you’re looking for a VPN legal in India for maintaining top-tier privacy, VeePN ticks all the boxes. 

Works via secure virtual Indian servers

VeePN offers “India servers” as part of our service. However, these are virtual locations, with physical infrastructure located outside of India. As a result, the CERT-In 2022 regulations, which require VPN providers with physical servers in India to retain user logs, do not apply to VeePN. 

2500+ servers 

VeePN provides a vast VPN server network across 89 locations in 60 countries. It offers specialized servers for streaming content and gaming. So if you’d rather sidestep Indian-based servers altogether, you can effortlessly connect to other regions.

Complete anonymity

By masking your IP address, VeePN hides your online footprints.

No Logs 

VeePN never stores users’ personal data and their actions online. 

High-level encryption

VeePN offers military-grade AES-256 encryption to protect all Internet traffic.  

Connect up to 10 devices

You can install and use VeePN on 10 different devices simultaneously under the single subscription plan: your iPhone, Android, Mac, router, TV, and more.

Advanced security features

VeePN offers DNS leak protection, a Kill Switch, Antivirus, and other safety add-ons that keep your identity and data sealed tight.

Try using VeePN now with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Written by Oliver Bennett Oliver Bennett is a dedicated cyber security content writer with a knack for breaking down intricate cyber topics into accessible and actionable insights.

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