'There is absolutely no proposal to lift the ban on TikTok': Ashwini Vaishnaw on unban reports

The Indian government has no plans to lift the ban on TikTok, Union Minister for IT, Information and Broadcasting, and Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw said, dismissing speculation about the app’s return in the Indian market. 

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“There is absolutely no proposal which has come from any quarters,” Vaishnaw told Moneycontrol in an interview, addressing reports that the short-video platform owned by Chinese firm ByteDance could make a comeback as India-China relations improve.

The clarification comes after TikTok’s website was briefly accessible last month on some broadband and mobile networks, including Airtel and Vodafone. Notably, it was also reported that the company had begun hiring for a couple of roles in its Gurugram office, with job postings appearing on professional networking sites such as LinkedIn.

TikTok was among the 59 Chinese apps banned in June 2020 over national security concerns. The app was later permanently banned in January 2021. Before the ban, India was TikTok’s largest market, with more than 200 million users. 

The government also suspended other ByteDance apps. Helo was banned in June 2020, and CapCut in July 2020. PUBG Mobile was also banned later in September 2020.

Until 2020, Chinese investors such as Tencent, Alibaba, Ant Financial, and Shunwei Capital were among the most active backers of India’s startup ecosystem, collectively investing billions of dollars across e-commerce, fintech, food delivery, mobility, digital content, and edtech. But in April 2020, the government tightened foreign direct investment rules through Press Note 3, requiring prior approval for funding from countries sharing a land border with India.

The change made Chinese investment significantly harder, prompting several Indian startups to reduce stakes or arrange exits for Chinese investors and seek alternative sources of capital.

Last week, it was reported that Indian and Chinese companies are stepping up discussions on joint ventures and technology partnerships in electronics manufacturing, as both governments look to strengthen engagement amid steep tariffs illegally imposed by US President Donald Trump. Most of the talks are focused on electronics components, with Indian manufacturers seeking commercial tie-ups with Chinese firms to access technology, scale, and cost advantages.