TL;DR: India's political YouTube ecosystem is dominated by creators spanning the ideological spectrum. Critical/Left-leaning: Dhruv Rathee (31M), Ravish Kumar (14M), Akash Banerjee (5.1M). Centrist/Analytical: Mohak Mangal (4.35M), Nitish Rajput (7.9M). Indic/Right-leaning: Sham Sharma (2.1M), Think School (4.7M), Gaurav Thakur (7.3M). No creator is truly "unbiased" - understanding each creator's ideological framework helps you consume their content more critically.
In 2024, India's internet penetration reached 52.4%, with 751.4 million users online and 462 million active on social media.[^1] This digital transformation has fundamentally altered how Indians consume political information. Traditional broadcast media has become secondary to algorithmically-driven narratives from independent content creators who have effectively become the primary arbiters of political discourse for a generation that increasingly views television news as compromised.[^2]
This guide provides an exhaustive, neutral analysis of India's most influential political YouTubers - their subscriber counts, ideological positions, content styles, and controversies.
The Rise of Political YouTube in India
India is YouTube's second-largest market after the United States, with over 500 billion average monthly views.[^7] Several factors have driven the explosion of political content:
Declining Trust in Traditional Media In the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, India ranked 151st out of 180 countries.[^7] Concentrated media ownership, political influence on mainstream providers, and safety concerns have pushed many journalists to YouTube, where they believe they can provide more critical perspectives.
The "YouTube Wars" The current ecosystem is characterized by an ideological struggle between creators critical of the ruling BJP government and a rising "Non-Left" ecosystem that challenges what it perceives as liberal, anti-Indic bias in digital discourse.[^3] This has created a highly polarized information environment.
Regional Expansion Political YouTube is no longer confined to Hindi or English. It has permeated every major Indian language, from Tamil Nadu's whistleblower culture to West Bengal's data-driven debates.[^5]
Understanding the Political Spectrum on Indian YouTube
Before examining individual creators, it's essential to understand the ideological framework:
| Spectrum Position | Core Characteristics | Typical Framing |
|---|---|---|
| Critical/Left-Liberal | Government accountability, social justice, constitutional values | "Democratic backsliding," "minority rights," "institutional erosion" |
| Centrist/Analytical | Data-driven, attempts both-sides coverage | "Let's look at the facts," "multiple perspectives" |
| Indic/Non-Left | Hindu cultural focus, challenges "left-liberal" narrative | "Anti-Hindu bias," "Indic civilization," "nationalist" |
| Pro-Government | Direct support for ruling party, critique of critics | "Opposition propaganda," "anti-national narrative" |
Critical/Left-Liberal Creators
These creators are generally characterized by consistent criticism of the BJP-led central government, focus on constitutional values, and emphasis on minority rights and social justice.
Dhruv Rathee
| Metric | Data |
|---|---|
| Channel | Dhruv Rathee |
| Subscribers | 31 million (January 2026)[^8] |
| Total Views | 5 billion+ |
| Primary Language | Hindi/English |
| Based In | Germany |
| Active Since | 2013 |
Content Style & Ideology
Dhruv Rathee is the preeminent figure in the critical niche. Based in Germany, his content focuses on simplifying complex policy issues through high-production "explanatory" videos that mix Hindi and English, appealing to an urban, educated demographic.[^3]
His 2024 video "Is India becoming a Dictatorship?" garnered 26 million views and illustrated the capacity of a single creator to set a national agenda.[^7] This video was later cited by Pakistani news channels following the 2025 Pahalgam terrorist attack, leading to significant backlash.[^9]
Bias Indicators - Topic selection heavily skewed toward government criticism - Framing often uses loaded questions ("Is India becoming a Dictatorship?") - Rarely provides equal critical coverage of opposition parties - Sources frequently include international press and opposition statements
Recent Controversies (2025)
-
Sikh Community Backlash (May 2025): Faced widespread condemnation for posting AI-generated thumbnails depicting Sikh gurus. The SGPC President criticized the video, and Rathee eventually removed it.[^9]
-
Janhvi Kapoor/Bollywood Controversy (December 2025): His video "The FAKE Beauty of Bollywood Celebrities" sparked backlash when viewers speculated he was targeting actress Janhvi Kapoor, who had recently condemned violence against Hindus in Bangladesh. Rathee responded: "Na main tumhare papa se darta aur na hi kisi Bollywood celebrity se" (I'm not afraid of your father or any Bollywood celebrity).[^9]
-
Gig Workers Strike (December 2025): Promoted a gig workers' strike on December 31, 2025, which critics argued had little connection to actual worker needs on the ground.[^9]
Ravish Kumar
| Metric | Data |
|---|---|
| Channel | Ravish Kumar Official |
| Subscribers | 14 million (January 2026)[^10] |
| Total Views | 2.2 billion+ |
| Primary Language | Hindi |
| Previous Role | Senior Executive Editor, NDTV |
| Active Since | 2022 |
Content Style & Ideology
Ravish Kumar, formerly the face of NDTV and recipient of the 2019 Ramon Magsaysay Award, successfully transitioned to YouTube following the network's ownership change. His channel serves as a platform for long-form, investigative journalism that focuses on marginalized voices and holding power structures accountable.[^7]
His departure from NDTV in November 2022 triggered explosive growth - his channel gained nearly 1 million subscribers in a single day.[^10]
Bias Indicators - Consistently critical of BJP government - Focus on rural issues, unemployment, and communal harmony - Rarely platforms pro-government voices - Content framed around "fearless journalism" narrative
Professional Background
Kumar spent over 25 years with NDTV before transitioning to independent journalism. His credibility draws from his established journalistic reputation, though critics argue his coverage lacks balance.
Akash Banerjee (The Deshbhakt)
| Metric | Data |
|---|---|
| Channel | The Deshbhakt |
| Subscribers | 5.1 million (January 2026)[^11] |
| Primary Language | Hindi/English |
| Previous Role | Senior Correspondent, India Today |
| Active Since | 2018 |
Content Style & Ideology
A former mainstream journalist disillusioned by TV media, Banerjee utilizes satirical caricatures - most notably "Bhakt Banerjee" - to critique the government.[^4] The "Bhakt Banerjee" character represents a fervent supporter of the "supreme leader," viewing the nation through "rose-tinted glasses" and berating anyone who questions authority.[^4]
This satirical framework allows Banerjee to discuss taboo topics while maintaining engagement that traditional reporting often fails to achieve.[^4] The Washington Post has called The Deshbhakt "one of the biggest YouTube channels in India."[^11]
Bias Indicators - Satire consistently targets BJP/right-wing - "Bhakt Banerjee" character explicitly mocks BJP supporters - Constitutionalist framing - Limited satirical coverage of opposition
Abhisar Sharma
| Metric | Data |
|---|---|
| Channel | Abhisar Sharma |
| Subscribers | 8.74 million (January 2026)[^12] |
| Videos | 3,900+ |
| Primary Language | Hindi |
| Previous Roles | Zee News, ABP News, NDTV, TV Today |
| Active Since | 2009 |
Content Style & Ideology
Abhisar Sharma is a freelance news anchor who has worked across multiple mainstream channels before establishing his independent YouTube presence. His content focuses on current affairs and social issues with a critical lens toward the central government.
Recent Controversy
In 2025, Sharma faced copyright claims from Doordarshan for using parliamentary videos in his content, highlighting the growing tension between independent creators and government institutions.[^12]
Centrist/Analytical Creators
These creators attempt to position themselves as neutral analysts, though all carry implicit biases in their framing and topic selection.
Mohak Mangal (Soch)
| Metric | Data |
|---|---|
| Channel | Soch by Mohak Mangal |
| Subscribers | 4.35 million (January 2026)[^13] |
| Total Views | 507 million+ |
| Monthly Views | 40 million+ |
| Primary Language | Hindi/English |
Content Style & Ideology
Mohak Mangal has become a household name in India's digital education space, known for data-driven videos on politics, economics, and current events. His channel ranks among the top 1% of YouTube channels globally for engagement.[^13]
Bias Assessment
While Mangal positions himself as fact-based and balanced, his content selection and framing tend toward critical analysis of government policies. He is generally perceived as more neutral than explicitly partisan creators.
Major Controversy: ANI Copyright Battle (2025)
The legal battle between Mohak Mangal and news agency ANI represents a watershed moment for independent Indian media.[^14]
Background: Mangal used two short clips (9-11 seconds each) from ANI footage in videos about the Kolkata rape case and Operation Sindoor. ANI issued copyright strikes, then allegedly demanded Rs 48 lakh plus GST to withdraw them.[^14]
Legal Proceedings: ANI filed separate suits for copyright infringement (trial court) and trademark infringement/defamation (Delhi High Court) targeting Mangal's viral "Dear ANI" video (5.5 million views). Comedian Kunal Kamra and AltNews co-founder Mohammed Zubair were named as co-defendants for amplifying the campaign.[^14]
Court Ruling: The Delhi High Court directed Mangal to remove specific disparaging portions while preserving the video and his right to express opinions. The court noted that asking viewers to unsubscribe from ANI was acceptable as the creator's opinion.[^14]
Broader Implications: Critics argue the case represents "hafta wasuli" (extortion) designed to silence independent voices - with YouTube described as "the last place where you could speak out about Indian politics."[^14]
Nitish Rajput
| Metric | Data |
|---|---|
| Channel | Nitish Rajput |
| Subscribers | 7.9 million (January 2026)[^15] |
| Total Views | 738 million+ |
| Instagram Followers | 3.4 million |
| Primary Language | Hindi |
| Previous Career | IT Engineer |
| Active Since | 2020 |
Content Style & Ideology
A former IT engineer turned content creator, Nitish Rajput has carved a unique niche by prioritizing fact-based analysis over sensationalism. His short-form video content focuses on presenting multiple perspectives to encourage critical thinking.[^7]
Bias Assessment
Rajput is frequently cited as one of India's more balanced political creators, though his content on socio-economic issues tends to be analytical rather than explicitly partisan. With over 14 million followers across platforms, he qualifies as a "mega influencer."[^15]
Indic/Non-Left Creators
These creators explicitly position themselves in opposition to "left-liberal" narratives and focus on Hindu cultural perspectives and nationalist viewpoints.
Sham Sharma (The Sham Sharma Show)
| Metric | Data |
|---|---|
| Channel | The Sham Sharma Show |
| Subscribers | 2.1 million (January 2026)[^16] |
| Total Views | 461 million+ |
| Secondary Channel | The Sham Sharma Show - Global (328K) |
| Primary Language | English/Hindi |
Content Style & Ideology
Sham Sharma is a central node in the "Non-Left" ecosystem. He explicitly defines his stance as "non-Left," citing a passion for studying Hinduism as a reaction to perceived anti-Hindu bias in mainstream media.[^3]
His channel description states it is "dedicated to raising a voice for India's indigenous culture" and "tries to make sense of things, past the bias and misinformation."[^16]
Ecosystem Building
These creators often collaborate in joint sessions, such as "Creating A Non-Left Ecosystem," where they discuss the strategic necessity of an alternative media infrastructure to counter Dhruv Rathee and his peers.[^3]
Bias Indicators - Explicitly "Non-Left" self-identification - Heavy focus on perceived "anti-Hindu" bias in media - Rarely critical of BJP policies - Collaborative ecosystem with other right-leaning creators
Abhijit Chavda
| Metric | Data |
|---|---|
| Channel | Abhijit Chavda |
| Subscribers | 936,000 (January 2026)[^17] |
| Total Views | 149 million+ |
| Videos | 1,900+ |
| Primary Language | English/Hindi |
| Secondary Channel | Abhijit Chavda Hindi |
Content Style & Ideology
Abhijit Chavda represents the intellectual-historical wing of the Indic ecosystem. His content focuses on what he terms the "distortion of Indian history" by foreign narratives and advocates for an "internal perspective" on geopolitics.[^5]
Chavda's influence extends into revisionist analysis of the Indus Valley Civilization and the origins of the "Dravidian" linguistic group, where he advocates for indigenous, Indic origin theories.[^5]
Platform
His #AskAbhijit show features discussions with subject matter experts on geopolitics, world and Indian history, world affairs, culture, and science. He has represented India at international forums, including the G20 summit.[^17]
Think School
| Metric | Data |
|---|---|
| Channel | Think School |
| Subscribers | 4.71 million (January 2026)[^18] |
| Total Views | 510 million+ |
| Primary Language | English |
| Founders | Parsh Kothari, Ganeshprasad Sridharan |
| Focus | Geopolitics, Economics, Education |
Content Style & Ideology
Founded by two engineers who started with Rs 25,000, Think School hit 100K subscribers just 10 days after uploading a viral video in April 2021.[^18]
Bias Assessment
Think School is frequently perceived as presenting "aspirational India" narratives that align with government achievements. Critics describe their infrastructure analysis content as "soft propaganda," though the channel maintains an educational framing.[^5]
Controversy
Reddit discussions have highlighted criticism of Think School's Kerala analysis video, with comments suggesting the content represents "tailored, pro-state effort narrative."[^7]
Gaurav Thakur (GSF)
| Metric | Data |
|---|---|
| Channel | Gaurav Thakur GSF |
| Subscribers | 7.27 million (January 2026)[^19] |
| Total Views | 1.2 billion+ |
| Secondary Channel | GetsetflySCIENCE (9.6M) |
| Focus | Geopolitics, Entrepreneurship, Science |
Content Style & Ideology
Gaurav Thakur is the founder of Getsetfly Media, an influencer marketing company that owns 6 YouTube channels. He shares content on "Entrepreneurship, Geopolitics, Scientific Self-Improvement, and Knowledge that matters."[^19]
His content is characterized by "aspirational India" framing with geopolitical analysis that tends to align with nationalist perspectives.
Sushant Sinha (Top Angle)
| Metric | Data |
|---|---|
| Channel | Top Angle (Sushant Sinha) |
| Subscribers | 3.25 million (January 2026)[^20] |
| Total Views | 653 million+ |
| Videos | 1,596 |
| Primary Language | Hindi |
| Current Role | Consulting Editor, Times Now Navbharat |
Content Style & Ideology
Sushant Sinha hosts the 9 PM show "News Ki Pathshala" on Times Now Navbharat while maintaining his independent YouTube presence. His channel covers politics, sports, movies, science, and history.[^20]
Bias Assessment
His content is generally perceived as pro-government with critical analysis of opposition parties and their supporters.
Mainstream Influencers Who Pivoted to Politics
A defining trend in 2024-2025 is the "political pivot" of influencers whose original niches were entirely non-political.
Ranveer Allahbadia (BeerBiceps)
| Metric | Data |
|---|---|
| Channels | BeerBiceps (8.2M), Ranveer Allahbadia (10.5M) |
| Total Reach | ~12 million across 7 channels |
| Primary Language | English/Hindi |
| Original Niche | Fitness |
| Active Since | 2015 |
The "BeerBiceps Model"
Ranveer Allahbadia represents the pinnacle of the political pivot. Initially a fitness vlogger, he transitioned into hosting "India's Joe Rogan" style podcast interviews.[^7]
His interviews with Union Ministers like S. Jaishankar (6.2 million views) and Smriti Irani, "co-presented by MyGov" (a government platform), have drawn millions of views.[^6]
Criticism
While Allahbadia claims to be a "centrist" seeking to humanize leaders, critics argue these interviews lack critical questioning and serve as "direct propaganda" or "soft-focus" public relations.[^2] Newslaundry's investigation titled "No payment, no tender, just an 'opportunity'" examined these government collaborations.[^6]
Major Controversy: India's Got Latent (February 2025)
The controversy that dominated headlines involved Allahbadia's appearance on Samay Raina's comedy show "India's Got Latent."[^21]
The Incident: Allahbadia posed an inappropriate question to a contestant involving explicit sexual content. It later emerged the joke was copied from an Australian YouTube channel.[^21]
Legal Consequences: - FIRs filed in Mumbai and Guwahati - NHRC directed YouTube to remove videos - Maharashtra Women's Commission complaint - All episodes made private on February 12, 2025 - Show cancelled[^21]
Aftermath: - Allahbadia apologized: "My comment wasn't just inappropriate, it wasn't even funny. Comedy is not my forte."[^21] - Supreme Court allowed him to resume podcasting on March 3, 2025, with decency conditions - He was briefly detained by Guwahati Police on March 7, 2025, drawing criticism for the treatment[^21]
Subscriber Impact: While some reports claimed a 2 million subscriber drop, fact-checks revealed the actual decline was approximately 56,000 across all platforms.[^22]
Regional Political YouTubers
The national narrative is often fractured by regional language creators who wield immense power in state-level elections.
Tamil Nadu
Savukku Shankar
| Metric | Data |
|---|---|
| Focus | Government corruption, police atrocities |
| Stance | Critical of government (varies between DMK/ADMK) |
| Characterization | Whistleblower / "Political broker" |
Major Controversy: House Attack (March 2025)
On March 24, 2025, approximately 50 people disguised as sanitation workers attacked Savukku Shankar's Chennai residence, ransacking the home and terrorizing his mother.[^23]
Background: The attack allegedly followed Shankar's video exposing alleged corruption in the distribution of sewer-cleaning machines, naming Tamil Nadu Congress Committee President Selvaperunthagai K.[^23]
Investigation: The CB-CID was tasked with investigating after allegations of police complicity. Five people were arrested.[^23]
Aftermath: Shankar announced he was shutting down his YouTube channel. He was later arrested in December 2025 in an unrelated assault and extortion case, then granted interim bail by Madras High Court, which criticized "targeted legal measures" against him for criticizing the state government.[^23]
Maridhas
Represents the pro-BJP/anti-Dravidian wing of Tamil YouTube, often clashing with "Dravidian stooges" and challenging the state government's linguistic and cultural policies.[^5]
West Bengal
Tamal Saha (NTT) - High-quality field reports - Critical of ruling TMC - Journalism-style approach
Poulomi Nag (Hothat Jodi Uthlo Kotha) - Perceived as "polished BJP IT Cell" initiative - Compared to ABP Ananda in production quality - Targets secular, anti-TMC voters[^5]
Extreme Polarization
Channels like "Arambag TV" and "The News Bangla" are described by local audiences as "pure venom" due to triggering thumbnails and hype-driven commentary.[^5]
Karnataka
Third Eye - Focus on local justice issues - Gained trust by covering cases mainstream media ignored (e.g., Soujanya case) - Perceived as more raw and authentic than mainstream Kannada news[^5]
Kerala
Ebadu Rahman (1.2M+ subscribers) - Recognized as "Best Keralite Knowledge Influencer" 2025 - Simplifies finance and policy issues - Knowledge content intersects with political discourse^24
The String Reveals Controversy: A Case Study in Polarization
No analysis of Indian political YouTube is complete without examining the "String Reveals" controversy, which exemplifies the ecosystem's extremes.
Background
"The String" channel, founded by Vinodh Kumar (NIT Warangal alumnus), gained notoriety for far-right, pro-government content that repeatedly pushed YouTube's community guidelines.[^25]
Key Incidents
-
2021 "Greta Toolkit" Video: Kumar's video claimed journalists, activists, and fact-checkers were involved in a "conspiracy against India" and stated they should be "hanged to death." YouTube removed the video, though BJP leaders including Kapil Mishra and Tajinder Singh Bagga voiced support.[^25]
-
2023 Channel Termination: String Reveals was banned for "severe violations of community guidelines." Kumar filed a petition demanding Rs 2 crore compensation from Google.[^25]
-
Fact-Check Findings: BOOM found the String videos "highly sensational, riddled with inaccurate claims and inferences" with no factual evidence for claimed conspiracies.[^25]
YouTube India Bias Allegations
In July 2024, allegations emerged that 24 YouTube India employees allegedly manipulated algorithms to benefit specific creators, with claims of promoting content aligned with certain political ideologies while suppressing neutral or pro-BJP content.[^25]
How Algorithms Shape Political YouTube
Understanding the technological mechanisms behind political YouTube influence is crucial.
The Watch Time Economy
YouTube's algorithm fundamentally optimizes for "watch time" and "audience retention."[^26] Research indicates that "polarized influencers" are rewarded with increased engagement because their content provokes strong emotional responses - racism, nationalism, and ideological fervor are easy triggers.[^4]
This creates a self-sustaining cycle where creators are incentivized to move toward ideological extremes to maintain growth metrics.[^4]
SEO Strategies
Political YouTubers in 2025 prioritize:
| Strategy | Implementation | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Long-tail keywords | 3-6 word phrases ("is India becoming a dictatorship") | Lower competition, higher intent |
| Question-based titles | "Who is biased?" / "What really happened?" | Captures "People Also Ask" snippets |
| Conversational tone | Natural language matching voice search | 50% of searches now voice-based |
| Metadata saturation | 8-12 tags, keywords in first 100 words | Higher AI search visibility |
Regulatory Outlook: The Future of Political YouTube
The unregulated era of political YouTube is rapidly ending.
Supreme Court Directive (August 2025)
India's apex court urged the government to formalize penalties for social media influencers who engage in misconduct.[^7] Content creators like Ranveer Allahbadia are now facing court proceedings.
NCW and Statutory Bodies
The National Commission for Women and other bodies are lobbying for "stringent censorship and content moderation" for streaming platforms.[^21]
Institutionalization
Political parties continue to institutionalize influencer outreach, spending heavily on digital advertising and hiring hundreds of local creators. The line between independent commentary and paid propaganda continues to blur.[^1]
How to Navigate Political YouTube
The 5-Point Critical Consumption Framework
-
Know the Creator's Position: Every creator has a bias. Identify it before consuming content.
-
Cross-Reference Claims: Same story, 3 different sources across the spectrum.
-
Check Engagement Triggers: Is the content designed to inform or inflame?
-
Follow the Money: Who sponsors/advertises? Any government collaborations?
-
Identify Omissions: What's NOT being covered? What counter-arguments are missing?
Building a Balanced YouTube Diet
| Spectrum | Suggested Creators |
|---|---|
| Critical/Left | Dhruv Rathee, Ravish Kumar, Akash Banerjee |
| Center | Mohak Mangal, Nitish Rajput |
| Indic/Right | Sham Sharma, Abhijit Chavda, Think School |
Consuming content from ALL positions helps you identify bias and form independent opinions.
Conclusion
Indian political YouTube is no longer a peripheral media space. It is a highly professionalized, technologically advanced, and ideologically fractured ecosystem that has replaced traditional news for the majority of India's 800 million internet users.[^5]
The capacity for these creators to influence elections, drive policy debate, and incite societal shifts is unprecedented. Understanding their methods, motivations, biases, and the algorithmic structures that empower them is essential for any informed citizen.
Key Takeaways:
-
No creator is truly unbiased - All carry ideological frameworks that shape content selection and framing
-
Subscriber count doesn't equal credibility - Popularity is driven by algorithmic optimization, not accuracy
-
The ecosystem is intentionally polarized - Both camps actively build parallel media infrastructures
-
Regulation is coming - The free-for-all era is ending with increasing legal scrutiny
-
Your information diet is your responsibility - Consume across the spectrum, verify claims, think critically
Navigate India's polarized media landscape with The Balanced News. See every story from multiple perspectives with transparent bias ratings. Download free for iOS and Android.
References
[^1]: ISAS-NUS. "Political Interviewing on YouTube: An Analysis of Indian Politicians' Engagement with Digital Influencers and Media Houses Online." https://www.isas.nus.edu.sg/papers/political-interviewing-on-youtube-an-analysis-of-indian-politicians-engagement-with-digital-influencers-and-media-houses-online/
[^2]: Borderlines. "Influencers and the Changing Political Landscape of India." https://borderlines-cssaame.org/posts/2025/11/9/influencers-and-the-changing-political-landscape-of-india
[^3]: Scroll.in. "The Indian YouTube wars: Political video influencers are heating up the internet in election year." https://scroll.in/article/909010/the-indian-youtube-wars-political-video-influencers-are-heating-up-the-internet-in-election-year
[^4]: ResearchGate. "Divided We Rule: Influencer Polarization on Twitter during Political Crises in India." https://www.researchgate.net/publication/365035427_Divided_We_Rule_Influencer_Polarization_on_Twitter_during_Political_Crises_in_India
[^5]: Reddit r/TamilNadu, r/kolkata discussions on regional political YouTubers.
[^6]: Newslaundry. "No payment, no tender, just an 'opportunity': Untangling the BeerBiceps collab with Modi ministers." https://www.newslaundry.com/2023/06/27/no-payment-no-tender-just-an-opportunity-untangling-the-beerbiceps-collab-with-modi-ministers
[^7]: Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. "India | News Creators and Influencers 2025." https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/news-creators-influencers/2025/India
[^8]: Social Blade. "Dhruv Rathee YouTube Statistics." https://socialblade.com/youtube/handle/dhruvrathee
[^9]: Wikipedia. "Dhruv Rathee." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhruv_Rathee; India News Network, Filmibeat, News Karnataka coverage of 2025 controversies.
[^10]: Social Blade. "Ravish Kumar Official YouTube Statistics." https://socialblade.com/youtube/handle/ravishkumar.official; Varthabharati coverage.
[^11]: Wikipedia. "Akash Banerjee." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akash_Banerjee; vidIQ YouTube Stats.
[^12]: Social Blade, vidIQ. "Abhisar Sharma YouTube Statistics"; Storyboard18 coverage of Doordarshan copyright claim.
[^13]: Social Blade, vidIQ. "Soch by Mohak Mangal YouTube Statistics." https://socialblade.com/youtube/channel/UCz4a7agVFr1TxU-mpAP8hkw
[^14]: Complinity, Brandaid Multimedia, MediaNama, Swarajya, Chambers and Partners coverage of ANI vs. Mohak Mangal case.
[^15]: HypeAuditor, Social Blade. "Nitish Rajput YouTube Statistics"; DNA India, The Executive India profiles.
[^16]: Social Blade, vidIQ. "The Sham Sharma Show YouTube Statistics." https://socialblade.com/youtube/handle/shamsharmashow
[^17]: Social Blade, NoxInfluencer. "Abhijit Chavda YouTube Statistics."
[^18]: Social Blade, vidIQ. "Think School YouTube Statistics." https://socialblade.com/youtube/c/thinkschool; Screenlace, DNA India coverage.
[^19]: HypeAuditor, Social Blade. "Gaurav Thakur GSF YouTube Statistics."
[^20]: SPEAKRJ Stats. "Sushant Sinha YouTube Statistics."
[^21]: India TV News, Business Standard, NDTV, Wikipedia coverage of India's Got Latent controversy.
[^22]: Oneindia News fact-check on BeerBiceps subscriber drop claims.
[^23]: Hindu Post, The News Minute, The Federal, Business Standard, Devdiscourse coverage of Savukku Shankar attack and arrest.
[^25]: The Print, BOOM, Daily O, Organiser coverage of String Reveals controversy; Free Press Journal on YouTube termination.
[^26]: Bluehost. "YouTube SEO Best Practices to Rank Higher in 2025." https://www.bluehost.com/in/blog/youtube-seo-best-practices/
[^27]: Rolling Stone India. "20 Biggest India-based YouTubers Shaping the Country's Political Perspective." https://rollingstoneindia.com/india-based-youtubers-shaping-country-political-perspective/
[^28]: The Hindu. "Social media influencers are India's new election campaigners." https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/social-media-influencers-are-indias-new-election-campaigners/article67996976.ece
[^29]: Al Jazeera. "How dubious YouTube 'news' channels are boosting Modi in India's election." https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/4/5/how-dubious-youtube-news-channels-are-shaping-indias-election
