Telegram back on Play Store in India after NEET UG 2026 block
Synopsis
India briefly delisted Telegram from the Google Play Store to protect the NEET UG 2026 re-examination from organised cheating networks — and it worked. The exam passed without incident on 21 June, the Play Store block was lifted on 23 June, but Telegram's message-editing feature stays frozen until 30 June and the App Store ban is still in place, underscoring how far the government is willing to go to guard high-stakes tests.
Key Takeaways
Telegram was restored on the Google Play Store in India on 23 June 2026 after a week-long block.
The block ran from 16 to 22 June , ordered by the Centre on a request from the NTA to prevent cheating in the NEET UG 2026 re-examination.
Telegram's message-editing feature remains disabled until 30 June .
The app is still unavailable on Apple's App Store as of 23 June.
The Delhi High Court upheld the block, ruling the Centre followed due procedure under Section 69A of the IT Act.
The NEET UG re-examination on 21 June concluded without any reported paper leaks or major irregularities.
Messaging platform Telegram returned to the Google Play Store in India on Tuesday, 23 June, after the government lifted a week-long temporary block imposed as a precautionary measure ahead of the NEET UG 2026 re-examination. The app had been pulled from the platform from 16 to 22 June following a request from the National Testing Agency (NTA).
Why Telegram Was Blocked
The NTA alleged that organised cheating networks were exploiting Telegram to mislead and defraud candidates appearing for the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination held on 21 June. The agency, backed by the Ministry of Home Affairs, sought the temporary suspension in the interest of public order. The Centre invoked emergency powers under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act to enforce the block.
What Remains Restricted
While the Play Store listing has been restored, the Centre's order disabling Telegram's message-editing feature remains in force until 30 June. Additionally, the app continued to remain unavailable on Apple's App Store as of Tuesday, with no announcement on when that restriction would be lifted.
Delhi High Court Upholds the Block
Earlier this month, the Delhi High Court dismissed a petition filed by Telegram FZ LLC challenging the government's action. The court held that the Centre had strictly followed the procedure prescribed under Section 69A of the IT Act and that the restrictions satisfied the test of proportionality.
'Given the emergency nature of the Impugned Order, the reasons supplied in arriving at the decision were sufficient. As Respondent No. 1 (Union government) has strictly followed the procedural steps as required under Section 69A of the IT Act, the challenge to the Impugned Order on the ground non-communication of reasons cannot be sustained,' the court said.
NEET Re-Exam Conducted Without Incident
The NEET UG re-examination was conducted on 21 June and passed without any reported paper leaks or major fraudulent activities, according to officials. The successful conduct of the exam provided the basis for the government to begin rolling back the emergency restrictions. This marks one of the first instances in India where a major messaging platform was temporarily delisted from an app store over examination integrity concerns — a signal of how seriously authorities are treating digital cheating infrastructure.
Point of View
However, is the asymmetry — the Play Store block was lifted but the App Store ban lingers, and the message-editing freeze extends a week beyond the exam itself. The question is whether these residual restrictions are operationally justified or whether they are drifting beyond their stated purpose of protecting NEET candidates.
NationPress
23 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Telegram blocked in India in June 2026?
The Centre temporarily blocked Telegram from 16 to 22 June 2026 on a request from the National Testing Agency (NTA), which alleged the platform was being used by organised cheating networks to mislead candidates appearing for the NEET UG 2026 re-examination held on 21 June. The block was invoked under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act.
Is Telegram fully restored in India after the block?
Telegram was restored on the Google Play Store on 23 June 2026, but it remained unavailable on Apple's App Store as of the same date. Additionally, the platform's message-editing feature stays disabled until 30 June under a separate government order.
What did the Delhi High Court rule on the Telegram ban?
The Delhi High Court dismissed a petition by Telegram FZ LLC, ruling that the Union government had strictly followed the procedural requirements of Section 69A of the IT Act and that the restrictions met the test of proportionality. The court found that the emergency nature of the order justified the reasons provided.
Was the NEET UG 2026 re-examination affected by cheating?
The NEET UG re-examination was conducted on 21 June 2026 and passed without any reported paper leaks or major fraudulent activities, according to officials. The government cited this outcome as the basis for beginning to roll back the emergency restrictions on Telegram.
What is Section 69A of the IT Act and how was it used here?
Section 69A of the Information Technology Act empowers the Centre to direct blocking of online content or services in the interest of national security, public order, or related grounds. In this case, the government invoked its emergency provisions under the section to temporarily delist Telegram from app stores, a move the Delhi High Court subsequently upheld.
