News broke in August 2025 that the Delhi High Court had ordered the banning of websites like Sci-Hub and Libgen . Many Indian academics were incensed, suggesting it would be the death of research in India and saw the ban as an assault on free and equal access to knowledge.

In India, it is common for both teachers and students to ask for e-copies of journals and books in online groups. They rely on someone with institutional access to provide them with copies. This person is usually either studying or teaching abroad, or in one of the very few institutions within India with access to scientific resources.

For many, their teaching and research depend on others’ benevolence in downloading and providing the required materials. For others, Sci-Hub and Libgen , which to an extent r

See Full Page