Telegram has been removed from the Google Play Store in India following the Centre's decision to temporarily restrict access to the messaging platform ahead of the NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination scheduled for 21 June. New Android users are currently unable to download the app through Google's official marketplace, though the platform remains accessible on the Apple App Store.

What the Government Ordered

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), acting on recommendations from the National Testing Agency (NTA), imposed a temporary restriction on Telegram until 22 June. The order was issued under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, covering the examination window and its immediate aftermath.

Authorities stated that the measure was necessary to prevent the spread of examination-related fraud, misinformation campaigns, and cheating networks allegedly operating through the platform. According to the NTA, targeted actions — including the removal of specific channels, groups, and bots — were found insufficient to address the scale of the problem before broader restrictions were enforced.

The Message-Editing Feature Controversy

Beyond the access restriction, Telegram was separately directed to disable its message-editing feature in India until 30 June. Authorities argued the feature had previously been misused to fabricate evidence of paper leaks — users could edit old messages to swap attached files while retaining original timestamps, making doctored content appear authentic.

The NTA maintained that despite widespread claims circulating online, no NEET examination paper had been leaked. The agency described the circulating content as misleading claims designed to lure students with fraudulent offers of access to question papers.

Multi-Agency Action Against Exam Fraud Networks

The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), operating under the Ministry of Home Affairs, along with state police forces and other central agencies, was credited with identifying and acting against Telegram-based fraud networks. Law enforcement agencies across multiple states have launched investigations into examination-related scams allegedly conducted through social media and messaging platforms.

This comes amid heightened scrutiny of digital platforms during high-stakes national examinations, following controversies in previous years that drew significant public and judicial attention to exam integrity in India.

What Happens Next

The temporary restriction on Telegram is set to remain in force until 22 June, with the message-editing ban extending to 30 June. Whether the Play Store listing is restored immediately after the re-examination concludes on 21 June will depend on compliance assessments by MeitY. Existing users who have already installed the app on Android devices are unaffected by the Play Store delisting.