Telegram resumed operations for some existing users in India on Tuesday, a week after the Central government imposed a temporary ban on the messaging platform following a NEET paper leak incident. Despite partial restoration, the app remains delisted from Indian app stores, restricting new downloads, according to livemint.com.
The ban was enforced by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) as part of efforts to curb the spread of leaked exam papers on Telegram channels. While the platform was inaccessible to many users initially, some existing users reported regaining access this week. However, the app's removal from official app stores continues to limit its availability for new users, as reported by livemint.com and economictimes.indiatimes.com.
Telegram has faced multiple clashes with Indian authorities over content moderation and compliance with takedown orders. The temporary ban marks one of the most significant regulatory actions against the platform in India, highlighting the government's increasing scrutiny of social media services amid concerns over exam paper leaks and misinformation. This episode adds to the ongoing debate on balancing digital freedom and regulatory oversight in India’s fast-growing internet ecosystem, according to economictimes.indiatimes.com.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has not yet announced the lifting of the ban or changes to the app’s availability on Indian app stores, leaving the platform’s full restoration status uncertain as of June 23, 2026, per livemint.com.