The Indian government has lifted the restriction on Telegram usage for some users, after banning it for about a week. The restriction came after the NEET paper leak issue raised serious concerns.
While the service has partially recovered, many Apple users still cannot download it from the App Store, though a few can use Telegram if it is already installed. Android users also saw faster recovery as the app returned to the Google Play Store.
The government imposed a Telegram ban across India to prevent cheating during the NEET re-exam. Officials believed that some groups used the platform to share fake documents and misinformation. Authorities treated this step as a strict but necessary move to protect the exam process.
Telegram access in India improved after the ban period ended on June 22. However, the experience remains uneven. Some users can open chats and channels, while others continue to face issues with messages and login.
The government also asked Telegram to disable its message editing feature until June 30. Officials want to stop misuse where people change messages after sending them. This feature raised concerns during the exam leak issue.
The NEET paper controversy created a major controversy earlier this month. The first exam was canceled after reports of leaked question papers. Authorities then held a re-exam on June 21 with tighter rules and better checks. Early updates show no major cheating during the re-test.
Police continued the investigation across several states. In Bihar, officials arrested around 30 people linked to cheating attempts. Many cases involved impersonators who tried to write exams for others. Some staff members also broke rules related to biometric checks.
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov criticized the temporary ban. He said the decision affected millions of users instead of stopping the real culprits. He also mentioned that illegal activity moved to other apps during the ban.
The legal side also played an important role. Telegram approached the Delhi High Court, but the court supported the government’s decision. The court stated that authorities can block platforms to protect important national exams.
The Telegram ban in India shows how the government can temporarily prevent access to digital platforms if they affect important events such as national exams.
Currently, Telegram restoration in India remains partial. Full access will likely return after better safety measures are in place with active cooperation from authorities.
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