25 OTT Apps Banned in India – Full List & What to Know: In a major move, the Indian government officially banned 25 OTT platforms in July 2025. No warning this time—just boom, blocked. And if you’re wondering why your usual “late-night entertainment apps” disappeared overnight, here’s the full story.
Spoiler: it’s not just about bold scenes or adult content. It goes deeper.
25 OTT Apps Banned in India Wait… What Are These Apps?
These are the kinds of OTT apps that had been floating under the radar for a while—mostly known for “bold” content, to put it mildly. You might recognize names like Ullu, ALTBalaji (now ALTT), Desiflix, and others that were super popular for pushing the limits.
But apparently, the government felt they pushed way too far.
25 OTT Apps Banned in India – Full List
- Ullu
- ALTBalaji (ALTT)
- Big Shots App
- Desiflix
- Boomex
- NeonX VIP
- Navarasa Lite
- Gulab App
- Kangan App
- Bull App
- ShowHit
- Jalva App
- Wow Entertainment
- Look Entertainment
- Hitprime
- Fugi
- Feneo
- ShowX
- Sol Talkies
- Adda TV
- HotX VIP
- Hulchul App
- MoodX
- Triflicks
- Mojflix
25 OTT Apps Banned in India So, Why Did the Government Step In?
Apparently, a bunch of these apps were showing stuff that went beyond just “adult.” We’re talking about graphic scenes with no storyline, content that objectified women, and in some cases, clips that felt borderline disturbing.
Some reports said they even had inappropriate themes, which triggered complaints from major organizations like:
- National Commission for Women (NCW)
- National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR)
The government stepped in under laws like:
- Section 67 & 67A of the IT Act (deals with obscene online content)
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Section 294
- The Indecent Representation of Women Act, 1986
So yeah, this wasn’t just a moral panic or anything—it was about actual legal violations.
25 OTT Apps Banned in India What Happened Before the Ban?
Back in September 2024, the government had already sounded the alarm — but clearly, most of these apps weren’t listening.. But ost of them ignored it. Some even got creative—launching clone websites or mirror apps to dodge censorship. Obviously, that didn’t work for long.
25 OTT Apps Banned in India Was This the Right Move?
Now, here’s where things get a bit tricky. On one hand, people argue that banning content outright kills creativity and freedom. But on the other hand—let’s be real—most of these apps weren’t exactly winning any awards for storytelling.
In fact, it felt like many of them were just out to get clicks using shock content and zero narrative. And when minors or vulnerable audiences start watching that stuff? Yeah, it becomes a problem.
Also worth noting: this move was backed by civil society groups, industry bodies like FICCI and CII, and other watchdogs. So it wasn’t just the government going solo.
Those Logos You Saw on Instagram…
If you’ve seen Instagram stories with OTT app logos and red crosses all over them—yep, this is what that’s about. The most recognizable apps (Ullu, ALTT, Desiflix) are now part of India’s “no-stream zone.”
You’ll probably see a lot of commentary in the coming weeks—some supporting the ban, others trolling it.
Final Thoughts (Totally Personal)
Honestly? It was bound to happen. These platforms kept ignoring the rules, and some of the content really did cross lines. That said, not all bold content is bad. But if you’re running an app in 2025, you need to balance bold with responsible.
You can’t just pump out explicit videos with zero plot and expect to fly under the radar forever.
Let’s hope this pushes creators to up their game. You can be daring without being disgusting.
What Do You Think?
1. Was this ban too extreme?
2. Or was it the right call?
Join the convo on our WhatsApp Channel, drop your opinion on X (Twitter), or just shoot us a DM — or if you prefer, just reach out through our contact form. We’d genuinely love to hear what you think