Best VPN for India in 2026: CERT-In Rules, What Works, and Which VPN Keeps No India Logs
India's CERT-In directive (2022) requires VPN providers to store 5 years of user data and share it with government on request. ExpressVPN, Surfshark, NordVPN, and ProtonVPN all removed their India servers rather than comply — so their India traffic routes through servers in Singapore, UK, or Netherlands instead. These remain the best and most privacy-respecting options for Indian users.
The CERT-In Directive — What It Means for VPN Users in India
In April 2022, India's CERT-In (Computer Emergency Response Team) issued a directive requiring VPN providers operating servers in India to: collect and store verified customer names, email addresses, IP addresses, and usage logs for 5 years, and provide this data to government on request within 6 hours. This effectively made privacy-first VPNs incompatible with Indian server operation. The response: nearly every major VPN pulled their physical servers out of India. Indians still get Indian-speed connectivity by connecting through nearby servers in Singapore, UK, or Netherlands.
Best VPNs for India — No India Servers, Full Privacy
| VPN | India Server? | Best Alternative Server | Speed in India | Price/mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | Removed | Singapore (fast) | Excellent | $3.09 |
| ExpressVPN | Removed | Singapore, UK | Excellent | $6.67 |
| Surfshark | Removed | Singapore | Good | $2.30 |
| ProtonVPN | Removed | Singapore, Netherlands | Good | $4.99 |
| VPNs still in India | Yes (compliant) | Logging per CERT-In | Fast | Not recommended for privacy |
What Indian Users Need VPN For
Top use cases for VPN in India: accessing geo-blocked international streaming content (BBC iPlayer, US Netflix library), securing connections on public Wi-Fi at cafes, airports, and hotels, privacy from ISP data collection, gaming servers in other regions, and bypassing occasional ISP speed throttling on streaming platforms.
India VPN — FAQ
India-specific VPN questions