Headline Option 1 (Direct): Government Clarifies: No Official Order Issued to Lift TikTok Ban in India

In response to swirling rumors and media speculation, the Indian government has issued a definitive clarification: no official order has been issued to lift the ban on the popular short-video platform TikTok.

The statement, released by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), directly addresses recent reports suggesting the Chinese-owned app might be making a comeback to the Indian market. A government spokesperson emphasized that the position remains unchanged since the app was initially prohibited under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act in June 2020.

The original ban, which affected TikTok and 58 other apps of Chinese origin, was implemented on grounds of safeguarding the "sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order." The government's latest communication reinforces that this national security stance is still in effect, and any claims of the ban being reversed are unfounded and lack official authorization.

This clarification puts to rest a wave of speculation that had been building on social media and in certain news circles, causing confusion among users and content creators who were once active on the platform. The government's firm reiteration underscores its continued focus on data privacy and security in the digital ecosystem.

For now, the status quo remains. The ban on TikTok in India continues, and the government has confirmed there are no current proceedings to revoke it.