Key Highlights:

• Supabase access is blocked across several Indian ISPs under Section 69A of the IT Act.
• The government has not publicly disclosed the reason for the restriction.
• Supabase is a critical backend platform used by startups and developers.
• India is Supabase’s fourth-largest traffic source globally.

Supabase, a widely used developer database platform, has been blocked in India following a government order issued under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act. Internet providers began restricting access on February 24, leading to inconsistent availability across networks. While Supabase’s main website remains reachable in some cases, its core developer infrastructure is inaccessible for many users, disrupting active projects and new sign-ups.

The Indian government has not publicly explained why Supabase was blocked. As a result, developers, founders, and startups are left guessing how long the restriction will last and what triggered it.

What is Supabase and why do developers rely on it?

Supabase is an open-source backend-as-a-service platform launched in 2020. It positions itself as an alternative to Google’s Firebase. Instead of proprietary databases, Supabase is built on PostgreSQL, a widely trusted open-source database.

Developers use Supabase to handle authentication, real-time databases, file storage, and APIs. Startups often choose it because it reduces backend complexity and speeds up product launches. Over time, Supabase has become deeply embedded in modern app development, especially among early-stage companies and solo developers.

In India, Supabase is commonly used for SaaS tools, fintech experiments, AI apps, and internal business platforms. For many teams, it runs both development and production environments.

What exactly is blocked in India right now?

The restriction does not appear to be uniform. Users across JioFiber, Airtel, and ACT Fibernet in New Delhi report that Supabase’s core services fail to load. However, some users in Bengaluru say access still works on the same providers. This suggests uneven implementation at the ISP level.

Notably, supabase.co may open in browsers, but project dashboards, APIs, and backend connections often fail. In practice, this means applications built on Supabase stop functioning or cannot be updated.

Supabase acknowledged the issue publicly and said many Indian users remain blocked despite ongoing efforts to resolve it.

Why has the Indian government blocked Supabase?

The blocking order was issued under Section 69A of India’s IT Act. This provision allows the government to restrict access to online content in the interest of national security, public order, or sovereignty.

However, the government has not disclosed whether the action relates to cybersecurity risks, data hosting concerns, copyright complaints, or something else entirely. No public notice or clarification has been issued so far.

Because Section 69A orders are confidential by default, platforms often learn about them only after access is disrupted. Supabase’s case follows this pattern.

How big is Supabase in India?

India is Supabase’s fourth-largest source of traffic globally. According to Similarweb data cited by TechCrunch, India accounts for roughly 9 percent of all visits to the platform.

Supabase’s global traffic crossed 4.2 million visits in January, growing more than 111 percent year over year. In India alone, visits jumped about 179 percent to roughly 365,000. This rapid growth highlights how central the platform has become for Indian developers.

Even a short-term disruption can affect startups onboarding users, shipping features, or maintaining live services.

What are developers and startups experiencing?

Indian founders and consultants report immediate operational impact. Some say new user sign-ups have dropped sharply in recent days. Others cannot reliably access Supabase for production workloads.

While Supabase suggested workarounds like switching DNS settings or using VPNs, many founders say these options are impractical for real users. VPN-based access can break latency-sensitive apps and raises compliance concerns for businesses.

As a result, teams face hard choices. Some may pause launches. Others may rush migrations to alternative platforms.

Is this part of a larger website blocking trend?

India has faced criticism in the past for broad or unclear website blocking. In 2014, access to GitHub, Vimeo, Pastebin, and Weebly was briefly restricted during a security investigation. In 2023, users again reported partial GitHub blocks on some networks.

Policy experts warn that uncertainty around blocking decisions creates risk for developers. Without transparency, startups cannot confidently choose infrastructure providers.

For global platforms, India’s size makes these disruptions especially costly.

What does this mean for Supabase going forward?

Supabase has grown rapidly amid rising interest in AI-driven app development and “vibe coding” tools. The company has raised about $380 million since 2024 and reached a valuation of $5 billion.

It is led by CEO Paul Copplestone and CTO Ant Wilson. Neither the founders nor India’s Ministry of Electronics and IT have publicly commented on the block so far.

Until access is restored or clarified, Supabase’s growth in India remains at risk. For developers, the episode raises a broader question about the stability of cloud infrastructure choices in the country.

What happens next?

There is no official timeline for restoring access. If the issue stems from a technical or compliance concern, access could return quietly. If not, the restriction may last longer.

For now, Supabase remains partially blocked in India, leaving thousands of developers waiting for clarity. As Supabase continues to follow up with authorities, the episode underscores how quickly a core developer tool can disappear without explanation.

Supabase’s future in India now depends on what comes next.