The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (I&B Ministry) has directed Telegram to take immediate action against pirated films and OTT content circulating on its platform, according to sources. The messaging app has been asked to submit a compliance report within 15 days. The directive, issued on 4 July, is aimed at shielding India's creator economy, film industry, broadcasters, OTT platforms, producers, and distributors from the mounting damage caused by digital piracy.

Background: Telegram's Recent Run-In With Indian Authorities

This is not the first time Telegram has faced regulatory action in India in recent weeks. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) had previously blocked Telegram in India until 22 June as a precautionary measure ahead of the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination. The National Testing Agency (NTA) had stated that the block was taken 'in the interest of public order, in response to the organised use of the platform by cheating rackets to defraud candidates appearing for the NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination scheduled on 21 June 2026.'

Additionally, Telegram's message-editing feature was disabled until 30 June. Google reinstated the application on the Play Store in India after 22 June, once the exam-related block was lifted.

Delhi High Court Upholds Centre's Blocking Order

The Delhi High Court upheld the Centre's decision to temporarily suspend Telegram's services ahead of the NEET re-exam, ruling that the government had strictly followed the procedure prescribed under law while invoking emergency blocking powers and that the restrictions satisfied the test of proportionality. A single-judge bench of Justice Tejas Karia dismissed a petition filed by Telegram FZ LLC challenging the MeitY blocking order, holding that both the temporary suspension and the disabling of the message-editing feature were justified given the circumstances surrounding the nationwide medical entrance examination.

Centre Also Flags WhatsApp Username Feature

The I&B Ministry's latest directive to Telegram comes days after the Centre issued a separate notice to Meta over the proposed rollout of a username feature on WhatsApp. The government asked Meta not to roll out the 'usernames' feature in India until consultations on the matter are completed, according to sources. In response, WhatsApp clarified that the upcoming username feature will be optional and reiterated that several safeguards have been built in to prevent impersonation, scams, and unwanted contact, as it prepares for a wider rollout later this year.

What This Means for Digital Platforms in India

The back-to-back notices to Telegram and Meta signal a more assertive regulatory posture by the Centre toward large messaging and social media platforms operating in India. Notably, both actions come within a compressed timeframe, suggesting coordinated scrutiny rather than isolated interventions. The I&B Ministry's focus on piracy enforcement aligns with longstanding industry demands from Bollywood producers, OTT platforms, and broadcasters who argue that unchecked piracy on messaging apps is eroding content revenues. How Telegram responds to the 15-day compliance window will be closely watched by the broader digital media industry.