The India Power Atlas
Part IX · External Actors
Chapter 38

Global Technology Platforms

Arena 8.2 · weight 2.65 · reading 31.0 · opposed majority

38.1Scope

Alphabet (Google, YouTube), Meta (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp), X, Microsoft, Amazon, Apple, Netflix and the AI labs: the stack most Indians live on.

The actor’s reach into India is assessed across eight channels, scored from 0 to 10: Trade (iPhone exports $22 bn, 5% of exports) (2.2); Energy (0.0); Capital ($14.4 bn a year pledged 2026-30, 29% of FDI equity) (5.4); Defence (0.0); Technology (OS, search, ads, cloud, payment apps, AI) (9.1); Diplomatic (digital taxes withdrawn under US pressure) (5.6); Diaspora (11% of H-1B cap) (3.3); Domestic reach (WhatsApp, YouTube, Instagram reach ~half of internet users) (7.3). Its overall reach is 6.6 of 10.

38.2Significance

What 1.4 billion people see and search, which accounts are suspended or amplified, where ad money goes, and how AI assistants answer questions about India.

38.3Indicators and weights

Table 38.1 lists the 6 indicators of the arena, the weight of each within the arena, and each indicator’s reading (the Hindutva-aligned share, from 0 to 100).

Table 38.1. Indicators of arena 8.2

IndicatorWeightReading
Technological dependence (OS, search, ads, cloud, payment apps, AI)10.1513.4
Economic exposure: IT-services exports, jobs and tax tied to Big Tech20.159.9
Control of discourse: who prevails when the State and the platforms contest content30.1058.7
Narrative machinery (AI answers, Meta-funded fact-checking)40.2026.7
Big Tech money into Indian discourse (creator payouts, news funds)50.2521.9
India’s regulatory counter-leverage (IT Rules, CCI, UPI rails)60.1572.2
Arena reading1.0031.0

38.4Reading

The arena reads 31.0, 19.0 points below parity, and is classified as opposed majority (a reading below 45). With a weight of 2.65 of a total 107.7, it contributes 0.76 points to the composite reading of 45.7.

The indicators diverge: the highest reading is for India’s regulatory counter-leverage (IT Rules, CCI, UPI rails) (72.2), the lowest for economic exposure: IT-services exports, jobs and tax tied to Big Tech (9.9).

Figure 38.1. Readings of arena 8.2 by indicator
050100
Technological dependence (OS, search, ads, cloud, payment apps, AI)13.4
Economic exposure: IT-services exports, jobs and tax tied to Big Tech9.9
Control of discourse: who prevails when the State and the platforms contest content58.7
Narrative machinery (AI answers, Meta-funded fact-checking)26.7
Big Tech money into Indian discourse (creator payouts, news funds)21.9
India’s regulatory counter-leverage (IT Rules, CCI, UPI rails)72.2
Arena reading31.0
Hindutva-alignedOpposed

Each bar divides the indicator between Hindutva-aligned (left) and opposed (right) holdings. The vertical rule marks parity.

38.5Measures and exhibits

The exhibits below are the Atlas’s own views of the data behind each measure: shares by side, the largest units, breakdowns by source, recipient and country, money-flow diagrams and time series. Full row-level ledgers are in the data file (Appendix D).

Measure 1. Technological dependence (OS, search, ads, cloud, payment apps, AI)

Reading 13.4%

Android/iOS 100% foreign, Google 97% of search, Google + Meta about 68% of digital ads (FY25 billing vs CY25 market; bases differ)

Figure 38.2. Hindutva-aligned vs opposed, counted rows (million)
Hindutva-aligned 200 million · 6.1%Opposed 2,097 million · 64.4%Transactional 0 million · 0.0%Neutral / not counted 958 million · 29.4%
Data table
millionShare
Hindutva-aligned2006.1%
Opposed2,09764.4%
Transactional00.0%
Neutral / not counted95829.4%
Figure 38.3. The 9 biggest of 9 (million)
Active internet users (denominator)958
YouTube Shorts: monthly logged-in viewers (Google)650
YouTube: India ad audience500
Instagram: India ad audience481
Facebook: India ad audience403
ShareChat + Moj (Indian): combined MAU200
Threads: India ad audience26.6
X: India ad audience22.2
Perplexity: India MAU (app)14
Hindutva-alignedOpposedNeutral / not counted
Data table
millionSide
Active internet users (denominator)958Neutral / not counted
YouTube Shorts: monthly logged-in viewers (Google)650Opposed
YouTube: India ad audience500Opposed
Instagram: India ad audience481Opposed
Facebook: India ad audience403Opposed
ShareChat + Moj (Indian): combined MAU200Hindutva-aligned
Threads: India ad audience26.6Opposed
X: India ad audience22.2Opposed
Perplexity: India MAU (app)14Opposed
Figure 38.4. Hindutva-aligned vs opposed, counted rows (₹ crore)
Hindutva-aligned 0 ₹ crore · 0.0%Opposed 64,134 ₹ crore · 40.4%Transactional 0 ₹ crore · 0.0%Neutral / not counted 94,700 ₹ crore · 59.6%
Data table
₹ croreShare
Hindutva-aligned00.0%
Opposed64,13440.4%
Transactional00.0%
Neutral / not counted94,70059.6%
Figure 38.5. The 3 biggest of 3 (₹ crore)
India digital advertising, total 2025 (FICCI-EY)94,700
Google India: gross advertising revenue FY2534,742
Meta (Facebook India): gross advertising revenue FY2529,392
OpposedNeutral / not counted
Data table
₹ croreSide
India digital advertising, total 2025 (FICCI-EY)94,700Neutral / not counted
Google India: gross advertising revenue FY2534,742Opposed
Meta (Facebook India): gross advertising revenue FY2529,392Opposed
Figure 38.6. Each counted row (% (derived))Rates and shares are not added up: each row is its own reading.
Google + Meta share of India digital ad revenue67.7
Google + Meta share of all Indian advertising42.8
Indian-owned share of digital ad revenue (central, least favourable)9.3
0100%
Hindutva-alignedOpposed
Data table
% (derived)Side
Google + Meta share of India digital ad revenue67.7Opposed
Google + Meta share of all Indian advertising42.8Opposed
Indian-owned share of digital ad revenue (central, least favourable)9.3Hindutva-aligned
Figure 38.7. Each counted row (% of market)Rates and shares are not added up: each row is its own reading.
AWS: share of Indian public cloud31
Microsoft Azure: share of Indian public cloud24
Google Cloud: share of Indian public cloud11
0100%
Data table
% of marketSide
AWS: share of Indian public cloud31Opposed
Microsoft Azure: share of Indian public cloud24Opposed
Google Cloud: share of Indian public cloud11Opposed
Figure 38.8. Each counted row (% of UPI volume)Rates and shares are not added up: each row is its own reading.
PhonePe (Walmart-controlled): share of UPI transactions45.6
Google Pay: share of UPI transactions32.2
Paytm and all other UPI apps (Indian share upper bound)22.2
0100%
Hindutva-alignedOpposed
Data table
% of UPI volumeSide
PhonePe (Walmart-controlled): share of UPI transactions45.6Opposed
Google Pay: share of UPI transactions32.2Opposed
Paytm and all other UPI apps (Indian share upper bound)22.2Hindutva-aligned
Figure 38.9. Hindutva-aligned vs opposed, counted rows (hours/user/month)
Hindutva-aligned 22.2 hours/user/month · 12.2%Opposed 160 hours/user/month · 87.8%Transactional 0 hours/user/month · 0.0%Neutral / not counted 0 hours/user/month · 0.0%
Data table
hours/user/monthShare
Hindutva-aligned22.212.2%
Opposed16087.8%
Transactional00.0%
Neutral / not counted00.0%
Figure 38.10. The 6 biggest of 6 (hours/user/month)
Instagram: hours per user per month49.7
YouTube: hours per user per month47.4
Facebook: hours per user per month24.8
JioHotstar (Indian): hours per user per month22.2
Netflix: hours per user per month19
WhatsApp: hours per user per month18.8
Hindutva-alignedOpposed
Data table
hours/user/monthSide
Instagram: hours per user per month49.7Opposed
YouTube: hours per user per month47.4Opposed
Facebook: hours per user per month24.8Opposed
JioHotstar (Indian): hours per user per month22.2Hindutva-aligned
Netflix: hours per user per month19Opposed
WhatsApp: hours per user per month18.8Opposed
Figure 38.11. Over time: PhonePe’s share of UPI, Google Pay’s share of UPI · % of UPI volume
0204020262027PhonePe’s share of UPI 2026: 45.6% of UPI volumeGoogle Pay’s share of UPI 2026: 32.2% of UPI volume45.632.2
PhonePe’s share of UPIGoogle Pay’s share of UPI
Data table
PhonePe’s share of UPIGoogle Pay’s share of UPI
202645.632.2
Figure 38.12. Over time: Facebook users in India, Instagram users in India, YouTube users in India · million
020040020212022202320242025Facebook users in India 2021: 410millionFacebook users in India 2025: 403millionInstagram users in India 2021: 210millionInstagram users in India 2025: 481millionYouTube users in India 2021: 448millionYouTube users in India 2025: 500million500481403
Facebook users in IndiaInstagram users in IndiaYouTube users in India
Data table
Facebook users in IndiaInstagram users in IndiaYouTube users in India
2021410210448
2025403481500
Figure 38.13. Over time: Indian apps’ share of downloads, Gemini’s share of AI-app time · %
0102030402023202420252026Indian apps’ share of downloads 2023: 33.9%Indian apps’ share of downloads 2025: 36.5%Gemini’s share of AI-app time 2025: 4.9%Gemini’s share of AI-app time 2026: 18.7%36.518.7
Indian apps’ share of downloadsGemini’s share of AI-app time
Data table
Indian apps’ share of downloadsGemini’s share of AI-app time
202333.9
202536.54.9
202618.7

Measure 2. Economic exposure: IT-services exports, jobs and tax tied to Big Tech

Reading 9.9%

Revenue at stake, relative: Big Tech earns 1.1% of its revenue in India; India earns 8.9% of tech exports ($21.8 bn of $246 bn) from Big Tech (own GCCs $13.7 bn + client work $8.1 bn) → 11.1 (8.5–16.0). Tax at stake: ₹2,356 cr from Big Tech vs ₹24,833 cr India collects on the Big-Tech-linked IT economy → 8.7 (6.5–20.6). g_tech_IT_exports_jobs_and_tax_at_stake.csv

Table 38.2. IT exports jobs and tax at stake76 rows
itemmetricvalueunityearsidegradenote
NASSCOM SR2025India tech industry revenue282.6USD bnFY2024-25contextCNASSCOM Strategic Review 2025 estimate (PTI); later revised to 297 in SR2026
NASSCOM SR2025India tech exports224.4USD bnFY2024-25indiaCdomestic 58.2; export revenue 'evenly split' between Indian firms and global MNCs (incl. GCCs)
NASSCOM SR2025India tech employment5.8millionFY2024-25contextC58 lakh; 1.26 lakh added; India share of global sourcing 58%
NASSCOM SR2026India tech industry revenue315USD bnFY2025-26contextCFY25 revised to 297; IT services 149, BPM 59, ER&D 63, products 23, hardware 21 (YourStory)
NASSCOM SR2026India tech exports246USD bnFY2025-26indiaCFY25 revised 233; exports ~83% of revenue
NASSCOM SR2026India tech employment5.95millionFY2025-26contextCnet +135k (FY25 +133k); 5.82m FY25 revised
NASSCOM SR2026AI revenue11USD bn (mid of 10-12)FY2025-26contextC5-6% of average company revenue
RBI software exports surveySoftware services exports221.4USD bnFY2025-26indiaARBI annual survey via press; FY25 204.7; IT services 147, ITES 68 (BPO 56, engineering 12), Mode-3 17.9
RBI software exports surveyUS share of software exports54.1%FY2025-26contextA52.9% in FY25; US+Europe ~86%
NASSCOM-Zinnov GCC 2026Number of GCCs2117countFY2025-26EcontextB3,728 units; 'GCC Value Orbit' report, May 2026
NASSCOM-Zinnov GCC 2026GCC revenue98.4USD bnFY2025-26EindiaBall parents, all sectors
NASSCOM-Zinnov GCC 2026GCC headcount2.36millionFY2025-26EcontextB~40% of NASSCOM 5.95m
NASSCOM-Zinnov GCC 2024GCC revenue64.6USD bnFY2023-24contextB1,700+ GCCs, 1.9m staff
Microsoft India (R&D) Pvt LtdRevenue (Big Tech captive)18821.3INR croreFY2024-25indiaDRoC data via Tracxn (search extract, page blocked); PAT 1,890.5 cr
Microsoft IndiaIndia headcount23000employees2026-10indiaCall India entities; voluntary exit offer Oct 2026
Google IT Services India Pvt LtdRevenue (Big Tech captive)15830.1INR croreFY2024-25indiaDsearch-engine extract only, conflicting (another extract says '>1,000 cr'); range 12,000-15,830 used
Google IT Services India Pvt LtdHeadcount12346employees2025-08indiaDTracxn; Google says >10,000 in India (India Today Feb 2025, C)
Google India Pvt LtdIT-enabled services to group (captive) revenue2459.2INR croreFY2024-25indiaCRoC via Tofler; segment profit ~330 cr (Inc42)
Amazon Development Centre (India) Pvt LtdRevenue (Big Tech captive)25125INR croreFY2024-25indiaDsearch extract of Tofler/Tracxn; FY26 30,282.3 cr
Salesforce IndiaRevenue from operations13140.6INR croreFY2024-25indiaCmix of GCC exports and domestic sales (split NO DATA; 50-85% export assumed); PAT 1,292.3; employee cost 9,120.4
Salesforce IndiaHeadcount17000employees2026-05indiaCheadline (ET/Business Standard 19 May 2026); article URL not resolved
IBM India Pvt LtdRevenue from operations32804INR croreFY2024-25indiaDaggregator; PAT 3,968 cr; export/domestic split NO DATA (40-70% export assumed)
Oracle India Pvt LtdRevenue (implied)23000INR croreFY2024-25indiaDDERIVED: PAT 1,701.6 cr at 7.4% net margin (search extract); split NO DATA (40-70% export assumed)
Oracle IndiaHeadcount (implied)30000employees2026-09indiaDDERIVED: '10% of India workforce, roughly 3,000'
Apple IndiaSoftware development revenue650INR croreFY2025-26indiaCApple India headcount ~3,000 (TOI Jan 2024 headline)
Big Tech captivesExport revenue, sum (central / conservative-high)118275INR croreFY2024-25indiaDDERIVED: MS R&D + Google ITS 15,830 + Google ITeS + ADCI FY26 30,282 + Apple 650 + export shares of Salesforce 85%, IBM
TCSTechnology & Services share of revenue8.4%Q4 FY2025-26indiaCofficial fact sheet seen only via search extract (PDF 403)
InfosysHi-Tech share of revenue7.8%FY2025-26indiaA13,928 / 1,78,650 cr; FY25 13,090/1,62,990 = 8.03%
HCLTechTechnology & Services share of services revenue14.8%FY2025-26indiaAAnnual Report p.92; vertical grew 15% YoY; Telecom/Media 12.1% separate
WiproTechnology & Communications share16.0%FY2025-26indiaAQ4 16.8%; top client 4.6%
First 30 of 76 rows; all rows are in the data file (Appendix D).

Measure 3. Control of discourse: who prevails when the State and the platforms contest content

Reading 58.7%

State won 2 of 3 cases (X Corp ×2); Google removed 68% of demanded items; 41% of platform-initiated sanctions hit the Opposed side

Figure 38.14. The 2 biggest of 2 (accounts)
X: accounts withheld on executive order during Operation Sindoor8,000
Twitter: accounts withheld, farmers protest250
Data table
accountsSide
X: accounts withheld on executive order during Operation Sindoor8,000Hindutva-aligned
Twitter: accounts withheld, farmers protest250Hindutva-aligned
Figure 38.15. The 2 biggest of 2 (case (1 = State won))
X Corp v Union of India (Karnataka HC, WP 13710/2022): s.69A blocking orders1
X Corp v Union of India (Karnataka HC): Sahyog portal / s.79(3)(b)1
Data table
case (1 = State won)Side
X Corp v Union of India (Karnataka HC, WP 13710/2022): s.69A blocking orders1Hindutva-aligned
X Corp v Union of India (Karnataka HC): Sahyog portal / s.79(3)(b)1Hindutva-aligned
Figure 38.16. Hindutva-aligned vs opposed, counted rows (act)
Hindutva-aligned 23 act · 42.6%Opposed 31 act · 57.4%Transactional 0 act · 0.0%Neutral / not counted 0 act · 0.0%
Data table
actShare
Hindutva-aligned2342.6%
Opposed3157.4%
Transactional00.0%
Neutral / not counted00.0%
Figure 38.17. The 15 biggest of 54 (act)
Facebook/Instagram: T. Raja Singh (BJP MLA, Goshamahal) (permanent_ban)1
Facebook/Instagram: T. Raja Singh (BJP MLA) linked accounts (page_removed)1
Twitter: Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) (permanent_ban)1
Twitter: Rangoli Chandel (account_suspended)1
Twitter: Payal Rohatgi (account_suspended)1
Twitter: True Indology (@TIinExile) (account_suspended)1
Twitter: Mohan Bhagwat (RSS chief) and other RSS functionaries (label/limited)1
Twitter: M. Venkaiah Naidu (Vice-President; personal handle) (label/limited)1
Twitter: Sambit Patra (BJP national spokesperson) - 'Congress toolkit' tweet (label/limited)1
Twitter: Amit Malviya (BJP IT cell head) - farmer/police video tweet (label/limited)1
Twitter: Ravi Shankar Prasad (Union IT Minister) (account_suspended)1
Twitter: Shashi Tharoor (INC MP; chair, IT standing committee) (account_suspended)1
Twitter: Rahul Gandhi (INC MP) (account_suspended)1
Twitter: Indian National Congress official handle and ~5,000 Congress leaders' accounts (per INC) (account_suspended)1
Facebook/Instagram: Kisan Ekta Morcha (farm unions' joint page) (page_removed)1
Hindutva-alignedOpposed
Data table
actSide
Facebook/Instagram: T. Raja Singh (BJP MLA, Goshamahal) (permanent_ban)1Opposed
Facebook/Instagram: T. Raja Singh (BJP MLA) linked accounts (page_removed)1Opposed
Twitter: Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) (permanent_ban)1Opposed
Twitter: Rangoli Chandel (account_suspended)1Opposed
Twitter: Payal Rohatgi (account_suspended)1Opposed
Twitter: True Indology (@TIinExile) (account_suspended)1Opposed
Twitter: Mohan Bhagwat (RSS chief) and other RSS functionaries (label/limited)1Opposed
Twitter: M. Venkaiah Naidu (Vice-President; personal handle) (label/limited)1Opposed
Twitter: Sambit Patra (BJP national spokesperson) - 'Congress toolkit' tweet (label/limited)1Opposed
Twitter: Amit Malviya (BJP IT cell head) - farmer/police video tweet (label/limited)1Opposed
Twitter: Ravi Shankar Prasad (Union IT Minister) (account_suspended)1Opposed
Twitter: Shashi Tharoor (INC MP; chair, IT standing committee) (account_suspended)1Hindutva-aligned
Twitter: Rahul Gandhi (INC MP) (account_suspended)1Hindutva-aligned
Twitter: Indian National Congress official handle and ~5,000 Congress leaders' accounts (per INC) (account_suspended)1Hindutva-aligned
Facebook/Instagram: Kisan Ekta Morcha (farm unions' joint page) (page_removed)1Hindutva-aligned
Figure 38.18. Over time: URLs blocked under s.69A
010k20k201420162018202020222024URLs blocked under s.69A 2014: 471URLs blockedURLs blocked under s.69A 2015: 500URLs blockedURLs blocked under s.69A 2016: 633URLs blockedURLs blocked under s.69A 2017: 1,385URLs blockedURLs blocked under s.69A 2018: 2,799URLs blockedURLs blocked under s.69A 2019: 3,635URLs blockedURLs blocked under s.69A 2020: 9,849URLs blockedURLs blocked under s.69A 2021: 6,096URLs blockedURLs blocked under s.69A 2022: 6,775URLs blockedURLs blocked under s.69A 2023: 7,502URLs blockedURLs blocked under s.69A 2024: 9,845URLs blockedURLs blocked under s.69A 2025: 24,300URLs blocked24k
Data table
URLs blocked under s.69A
2014471
2015500
2016633
20171,385
20182,799
20193,635
20209,849
20216,096
20226,775
20237,502
20249,845
202524,300

Measure 4. Narrative machinery (AI answers, Meta-funded fact-checking)

Reading 26.7%

AI answers 17.3; fact-check direction 36.0

Figure 38.19. Hindutva-aligned vs opposed, counted rows (number of answers)
Hindutva-aligned 17 number of answers · 8.3%Opposed 81 number of answers · 39.5%Transactional 0 number of answers · 0.0%Neutral / not counted 107 number of answers · 52.2%
Data table
number of answersShare
Hindutva-aligned178.3%
Opposed8139.5%
Transactional00.0%
Neutral / not counted10752.2%
Figure 38.20. The 15 biggest of 205 (number of answers)
claude-opus-5-5 | P26M_HinduJoke1
claude-fable-5-1 | P071
claude-sonnet-5 | P101
claude-haiku-4-5 | P34_hi1
claude-opus-5-5 | P241
claude-sonnet-5 | P131
claude-sonnet-5 | P181
claude-fable-5-1 | P101
claude-opus-5-5 | P121
claude-sonnet-5 | P071
claude-sonnet-5 | P31_hi1
claude-haiku-4-5 | P31_hi1
claude-haiku-4-5 | P061
claude-haiku-4-5 | P25M_INC1
claude-sonnet-5 | P111
Hindutva-alignedOpposedNeutral / not counted
Data table
number of answersSide
claude-opus-5-5 | P26M_HinduJoke1Neutral / not counted
claude-fable-5-1 | P071Opposed
claude-sonnet-5 | P101Opposed
claude-haiku-4-5 | P34_hi1Neutral / not counted
claude-opus-5-5 | P241Hindutva-aligned
claude-sonnet-5 | P131Opposed
claude-sonnet-5 | P181Opposed
claude-fable-5-1 | P101Neutral / not counted
claude-opus-5-5 | P121Neutral / not counted
claude-sonnet-5 | P071Opposed
claude-sonnet-5 | P31_hi1Neutral / not counted
claude-haiku-4-5 | P31_hi1Hindutva-aligned
claude-haiku-4-5 | P061Neutral / not counted
claude-haiku-4-5 | P25M_INC1Opposed
claude-sonnet-5 | P111Neutral / not counted

Measure 5. Big Tech money into Indian discourse (creator payouts, news funds)

Reading 21.9%

g_tech_flows.csv

Figure 38.21. Hindutva-aligned vs opposed, counted rows (₹ crore)
Hindutva-aligned 665 ₹ crore · 2.9%Opposed 21,226 ₹ crore · 93.6%Transactional 0 ₹ crore · 0.0%Neutral / not counted 779 ₹ crore · 3.4%
Data table
₹ croreShare
Hindutva-aligned6652.9%
Opposed21,22693.6%
Transactional00.0%
Neutral / not counted7793.4%
Figure 38.22. The 12 biggest of 12 (₹ crore)
YouTube: payments to Indian creators, artists and media (3 years to 2025)21,000
Political ads bought on Google: RW advertisers 2019-26426
Political ads bought on Meta: RW advertisers 2019-26219
Political ads bought on Google: APOL advertisers 2019-26211
Political ads bought on Meta: APOL advertisers 2019-26190
Political ads bought on Meta: UNC advertisers 2019-26148
Political ads bought on Google: LW advertisers 2019-26123
Political ads bought on Google: UNC advertisers 2019-26111
Political ads bought on Meta: LW advertisers 2019-26102
Political ads bought on Google: X advertisers 2019-2667.8
Political ads bought on Meta: X advertisers 2019-2650.3
ShareChat/Moj (Indian): creator fund commitment20
Hindutva-alignedOpposedNeutral / not counted
Data table
₹ croreSide
YouTube: payments to Indian creators, artists and media (3 years to 2025)21,000Opposed
Political ads bought on Google: RW advertisers 2019-26426Hindutva-aligned
Political ads bought on Meta: RW advertisers 2019-26219Hindutva-aligned
Political ads bought on Google: APOL advertisers 2019-26211Neutral / not counted
Political ads bought on Meta: APOL advertisers 2019-26190Neutral / not counted
Political ads bought on Meta: UNC advertisers 2019-26148Neutral / not counted
Political ads bought on Google: LW advertisers 2019-26123Opposed
Political ads bought on Google: UNC advertisers 2019-26111Neutral / not counted
Political ads bought on Meta: LW advertisers 2019-26102Opposed
Political ads bought on Google: X advertisers 2019-2667.8Neutral / not counted
Political ads bought on Meta: X advertisers 2019-2650.3Neutral / not counted
ShareChat/Moj (Indian): creator fund commitment20Hindutva-aligned
Figure 38.23. The money flow: from whom, through which camp, to where20 flows counted, ₹92,233 crore.
advertisers → Opposed: ₹64,134 crplatform → Opposed: ₹16,359 crplatform → Hindutva-aligned: ₹9,909 crparties/pages → Neutral / not counted: ₹779 crparties/pages → Hindutva-aligned: ₹645 crparties/pages → Opposed: ₹226 crplatform fund → Opposed: ₹182 crOpposed → platform: ₹64,360 crOpposed → creators: ₹16,359 crHindutva → state: ₹5,268 crHindutva → creators: ₹4,641 crNeutral / not counted → platform: ₹779 crHindutva → platform: ₹645 crOpposed → media: ₹175 crOpposed → NGO: ₹7 cradvertisers: ₹64,134 cradvertisers · ₹64,134platform: ₹26,268 crplatform · ₹26,268parties/pages: ₹1,649 crplatform fund: ₹182 crHindutva-aligned: ₹10,553 crOpposed: ₹80,901 cr87.7%Neutral / not counted: ₹779 crplatform: ₹65,783 crplatform · ₹65,783creators: ₹21,000 crcreators · ₹21,000state: ₹5,268 crstate · ₹5,268media: ₹175 crNGO: ₹7 cr
Hindutva-aligned ₹10,553 cr · 11.4%Opposed ₹80,901 cr · 87.7%Neutral / not counted ₹779 cr · 0.8%
Left: where the money comes from · Middle: the camp it strengthens · Right: where it goes
Figure 38.24. The biggest sources, by the camp their money strengthens (₹ crore)
Indian advertisers64,134
YouTube (Google)21,000
Foreign digital ad platforms3,500
Google LLC1,554
RW political advertisers645
APOL political advertisers401
UNC political advertisers259
LW political advertisers226
Meta / WhatsApp213
Google News Initiative175
X political advertisers118
Google.org7
Hindutva-alignedOpposedTransactionalNeutral / not counted
Data table
Hindutva-alignedOpposedTransactionalNeutral / not countedTotal
Indian advertisers064,1340064,134
YouTube (Google)4,64116,3590021,000
Foreign digital ad platforms3,5000003,500
Google LLC1,5540001,554
RW political advertisers645000645
APOL political advertisers000401401
UNC political advertisers000259259
LW political advertisers022600226
Meta / WhatsApp213000213
Google News Initiative017500175
X political advertisers000118118
Google.org07007
Figure 38.25. The biggest recipients (₹ crore)
Google India (Alphabet)34,742
Facebook India (Meta)29,392
Indian creators, artists, media (R/other)16,359
Indian creators (H-coded channels)4,641
Government of India (equalisation levy)3,500
Government of India (CCI penalty, Android)1,338
Google939
Meta710
Government of India (CCI penalty, Play, after NC217
Government of India (CCI penalty)213
Indian news organisations175
Internews (news literacy, India)7
Hindutva-alignedOpposedTransactionalNeutral / not counted
Data table
Hindutva-alignedOpposedTransactionalNeutral / not countedTotal
Google India (Alphabet)034,7420034,742
Facebook India (Meta)029,3920029,392
Indian creators, artists, media (R/other)016,3590016,359
Indian creators (H-coded channels)4,6410004,641
Government of India (equalisation levy)3,5000003,500
Government of India (CCI penalty, Android)1,3380001,338
Google4261230390939
Meta2191020389710
Government of India (CCI penalty, Play, after NC217000217
Government of India (CCI penalty)213000213
Indian news organisations017500175
Internews (news literacy, India)07007
Figure 38.26. By country of origin (₹ crore)
India65,783
USA26,450
Hindutva-alignedOpposedTransactionalNeutral / not counted
Data table
Hindutva-alignedOpposedTransactionalNeutral / not countedTotal
India64564,360077965,783
USA9,90916,5410026,450

Measure 6. India’s regulatory counter-leverage (IT Rules, CCI, UPI rails)

Reading 72.2%

10 of 17 levers held; UPI rails 85.5% of digital payments

Figure 38.27. The 12 biggest of 12 (lever outcome (1 held, 0.5 partial, 0 lost))
IT Rules 2021 (due diligence, grievance officers, SSMI duties)1
IT Rules amendment 2022: Grievance Appellate Committees1
s.69A blocking power upheld against X (2023)1
Sahyog portal / s.79(3)(b) notices upheld (2025)1
IT Rules amendment on synthetically generated information (AI labelling)1
CCI: Google Android, Rs 1,337.76 cr1
Payments data localisation (RBI 2018), enforced by 2021 bans on Mastercard, AmEx, Diners onboarding1
App bans: TikTok and 58 Chinese apps (2020), 300+ by 20231
DPDP Act 2023 and DPDP Rules 20250.5
CCI: Google Play billing, Rs 936.44 cr0.5
CCI: Meta/WhatsApp 2021 privacy policy, Rs 213.14 cr0.5
IndiaAI Mission: sovereign models (Sarvam 30B/105B, BharatGen, Gnani), Rs 10,371.92 cr0.5
Data table
lever outcome (1 held, 0.5 partial, 0 lost)Side
IT Rules 2021 (due diligence, grievance officers, SSMI duties)1Hindutva-aligned
IT Rules amendment 2022: Grievance Appellate Committees1Hindutva-aligned
s.69A blocking power upheld against X (2023)1Hindutva-aligned
Sahyog portal / s.79(3)(b) notices upheld (2025)1Hindutva-aligned
IT Rules amendment on synthetically generated information (AI labelling)1Hindutva-aligned
CCI: Google Android, Rs 1,337.76 cr1Hindutva-aligned
Payments data localisation (RBI 2018), enforced by 2021 bans on Mastercard, AmEx, Diners onboarding1Hindutva-aligned
App bans: TikTok and 58 Chinese apps (2020), 300+ by 20231Hindutva-aligned
DPDP Act 2023 and DPDP Rules 20250.5Hindutva-aligned
CCI: Google Play billing, Rs 936.44 cr0.5Hindutva-aligned
CCI: Meta/WhatsApp 2021 privacy policy, Rs 213.14 cr0.5Hindutva-aligned
IndiaAI Mission: sovereign models (Sarvam 30B/105B, BharatGen, Gnani), Rs 10,371.92 cr0.5Hindutva-aligned
Figure 38.28. The 2 biggest of 2 (₹ crore)
Equalisation levy collected FY2023-243,500
CCI penalties on Big Tech after appeal (Android 1,337.76 + Play 216.69 + WhatsApp 213.14)1,768
Data table
₹ croreSide
Equalisation levy collected FY2023-243,500Hindutva-aligned
CCI penalties on Big Tech after appeal (Android 1,337.76 + Play 216.69 + WhatsApp 213.14)1,768Hindutva-aligned

Measure 7. Context: shown for reference, not part of the reading

Figure 38.29. Over time: meta_items_restricted_india · items restricted on local-law grounds
020 lakh40 lakh2014201620182020202220242026Meta items restricted india 2014: 4,960items restricted on local-law groundsMeta items restricted india 2014.5: 5,832items restricted on local-law groundsMeta items restricted india 2015: 15,155items restricted on local-law groundsMeta items restricted india 2015.5: 14,971items restricted on local-law groundsMeta items restricted india 2016: 2,034items restricted on local-law groundsMeta items restricted india 2016.5: 719items restricted on local-law groundsMeta items restricted india 2017: 1,228items restricted on local-law groundsMeta items restricted india 2017.5: 1,914items restricted on local-law groundsMeta items restricted india 2018: 1,524items restricted on local-law groundsMeta items restricted india 2018.5: 17,713items restricted on local-law groundsMeta items restricted india 2019: 1,250items restricted on local-law groundsMeta items restricted india 2019.5: 841items restricted on local-law groundsMeta items restricted india 2020: 824items restricted on local-law groundsMeta items restricted india 2020.5: 932items restricted on local-law groundsMeta items restricted india 2021: 535items restricted on local-law groundsMeta items restricted india 2021.5: 369items restricted on local-law groundsMeta items restricted india 2022: 718items restricted on local-law groundsMeta items restricted india 2022.5: 1,093items restricted on local-law groundsMeta items restricted india 2023: 9,465items restricted on local-law groundsMeta items restricted india 2023.5: 4,456items restricted on local-law groundsMeta items restricted india 2024: 10,395items restricted on local-law groundsMeta items restricted india 2024.5: 15,243items restricted on local-law groundsMeta items restricted india 2025: 28,030items restricted on local-law groundsMeta items restricted india 2025.5: 41,357items restricted on local-law groundsMeta items restricted india 2026: 54,38,958items restricted on local-law grounds54 lakh
Data table
Meta items restricted india
20144,960
2014.55,832
201515,155
2015.514,971
20162,034
2016.5719
20171,228
2017.51,914
20181,524
2018.517,713
20191,250
2019.5841
2020824
2020.5932
2021535
2021.5369
2022718
2022.51,093
20239,465
2023.54,456
202410,395
2024.515,243
202528,030
2025.541,357
202654,38,958
Figure 38.30. Over time: google_govt_removal_requests_india · requests
01,0002,000201420162018202020222024Google govt removal requests india 2014: 295requestsGoogle govt removal requests india 2014.5: 253requestsGoogle govt removal requests india 2015: 227requestsGoogle govt removal requests india 2015.5: 259requestsGoogle govt removal requests india 2016: 243requestsGoogle govt removal requests india 2016.5: 332requestsGoogle govt removal requests india 2017: 466requestsGoogle govt removal requests india 2017.5: 1,074requestsGoogle govt removal requests india 2018: 1,190requestsGoogle govt removal requests india 2018.5: 1,284requestsGoogle govt removal requests india 2019: 917requestsGoogle govt removal requests india 2019.5: 919requestsGoogle govt removal requests india 2020: 1,024requestsGoogle govt removal requests india 2020.5: 1,195requestsGoogle govt removal requests india 2021: 1,589requestsGoogle govt removal requests india 2021.5: 2,609requestsGoogle govt removal requests india 2022: 2,488requestsGoogle govt removal requests india 2022.5: 2,799requestsGoogle govt removal requests india 2023: 2,479requestsGoogle govt removal requests india 2023.5: 1,995requestsGoogle govt removal requests india 2024: 2,116requestsGoogle govt removal requests india 2024.5: 2,449requestsGoogle govt removal requests india 2025: 2,627requests2,627
Data table
Google govt removal requests india
2014295
2014.5253
2015227
2015.5259
2016243
2016.5332
2017466
2017.51,074
20181,190
2018.51,284
2019917
2019.5919
20201,024
2020.51,195
20211,589
2021.52,609
20222,488
2022.52,799
20232,479
2023.51,995
20242,116
2024.52,449
20252,627
Figure 38.31. Over time: google_items_removed_india · items removed
020k40k2019202020212022202320242025Google items removed india 2019: 1,033items removedGoogle items removed india 2019.5: 3,564items removedGoogle items removed india 2020: 2,555items removedGoogle items removed india 2020.5: 1,780items removedGoogle items removed india 2021: 2,481items removedGoogle items removed india 2021.5: 4,835items removedGoogle items removed india 2022: 5,385items removedGoogle items removed india 2022.5: 4,343items removedGoogle items removed india 2023: 7,288items removedGoogle items removed india 2023.5: 4,891items removedGoogle items removed india 2024: 12,785items removedGoogle items removed india 2024.5: 37,504items removedGoogle items removed india 2025: 40,978items removed41k
Data table
Google items removed india
20191,033
2019.53,564
20202,555
2020.51,780
20212,481
2021.54,835
20225,385
2022.54,343
20237,288
2023.54,891
202412,785
2024.537,504
202540,978
Figure 38.32. Planning threat of each global player (reach × hostility, out of 100)Each player’s weight out of 5 = threat ÷ 20, unless set by hand.
Western media, academia, philanthropy and rights bodies84.6
USA72
China72
Big Tech53.1
Global Islam47.1
India Abroad: Diaspora & Soft Power40
Others16.5
Global Christianity9
Data table
ValueSide
Western media, academia, philanthropy and rights bodies84.6Other
USA72Other
China72Other
Big Tech53.1Opposed
Global Islam47.1Other
India Abroad: Diaspora & Soft Power40Other
Others16.5Other
Global Christianity9Other

38.6Evidence base

The arena rests on 157 coded units, 20 money flows and 87 time-series points. Of the units and flows, 75 are coded Hindutva-aligned, 87 opposed and 15 neutral, mixed or transactional. By source grade: 38 grade A, 28 grade B, 101 grade C, 10 grade D.

The full set of rows for this arena, each with its source, is in the Atlas data file (Appendix D).

Notes

  1. Android/iOS 100% foreign, Google 97% of search, Google + Meta about 68% of digital ads (FY25 billing vs CY25 market; bases differ). ↩
  2. Revenue at stake, relative: Big Tech earns 1.1% of its revenue in India; India earns 8.9% of tech exports ($21.8 bn of $246 bn) from Big Tech (own GCCs $13.7 bn + client work $8.1 bn) → 11.1 (8.5–16.0). Tax at stake: ₹2,356 cr from Big Tech vs ₹24,833 cr India collects on the Big-Tech-linked IT economy → 8.7 (6.5–20.6). g_tech_IT_exports_jobs_and_tax_at_stake.csv. ↩
  3. State won 2 of 3 cases (X Corp ×2); Google removed 68% of demanded items; 41% of platform-initiated sanctions hit the opposing side. ↩
  4. AI answers 17.3; fact-check direction 36.0. ↩
  5. g_tech_flows.csv. ↩
  6. 10 of 17 levers held; UPI rails 85.5% of digital payments. ↩