India bans 118 more Chinese mobile Apps, including PUBG, amid border tensions with Beijing

As against the backdrop of the clash between India and China at the Kline of Actual Control (LAC), the Indian government has banned 118 more Chinese mobile applications including popular gaming appPub G.

“The apps have been banned as they are engaged in activities prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defense of India, the security of the state and public order,” a statement from the Ministry of Electronics and Information and Technology said.

“This move will safeguard the interests of crores of Indian mobile and internet users. This decision is a targeted move to ensure safety, security and sovereignty of Indian cyberspace,” the statement added.

The ministry said “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,” it said.

Earlier, the Narendra Modi government had banned at least 59 mobile applications in response to the Galwan Valley clashes in June during which at least 20 Indian soldiers and an unknown number of Chinese troops were killed.

“In the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India and security of the State. And using the sovereign powers, the Government of India has decided to block the usage of certain Apps, used in both mobile and non-mobile Internet-enabled devices. These apps are listed in the attached appendix,” the Ministry said.

The latest act from the Modi government happens at a time when China allegedly made a transgression attempt near the southern bank of Pangong Tso, which was thwarted by the Indian Army.