Chinese technology company ByteDance, which operates the short video app TikTok, reportedly began recruitment at its office in Gurugram, near New Delhi, India's capital, on August 31, 2025. However, the Indian government denies granting permission for the app's return.
Background of TikTok Ban
In June 2020, following military clashes with Chinese forces, the Indian government banned 59 Chinese apps including TikTok from a national security perspective. The ban has continued for over five years, dealing a significant blow to ByteDance which lost access to India's massive market.
Before the ban, India was an extremely important market for ByteDance:
- World's second-largest market with approximately 200 million TikTok users
- Cumulative downloads reached 611 million by March 2020
- Accounted for about 30% of global downloads
Intent Behind Recruitment and Government Response
ByteDance's initiation of recruitment in India has made parts of the company's website accessible, suggesting the company may be exploring a return to the Indian market.
However, Indian government officials have clearly stated that no permission has been granted for TikTok's resumption, and the app ban remains in effect. Recruitment alone does not directly lead to the app's return.
Signs of Sino-Indian Relations Improvement
Meanwhile, there are signs of improvement in Sino-Indian relations. From August 18-19, 2025, China's Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister, visited India and held meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.
During this visit, the development of cooperative relations between the two countries was emphasized, confirming positive movements toward relationship recovery. Such diplomatic progress could potentially lead to lifting the TikTok ban in the future, though this remains uncertain.
Impact on India's Short Video Market
After TikTok's ban, alternative services rapidly gained market share in India:
International Platforms:
- Instagram Reels (Meta)
- YouTube Shorts (Google)
Domestic Apps:
- Moj (ShareChat)
- Josh (VerSe Innovation)
If TikTok were to return, intense competition with these established competitors would be expected. After more than five years of absence, regaining its former market position would not be easy for TikTok.
Future Outlook
ByteDance's recruitment drive indicates the company has not given up on returning to the Indian market. However, lifting a ban imposed for national security reasons requires political decisions that go beyond corporate efforts alone.
If Sino-Indian relations continue to improve, there may be possibilities for relaxing regulations on Chinese apps including TikTok, but the government's stance remains cautious at present.