Google restores Telegram on Playstore, app starts functioning for some users

Messaging platform Telegram was restored on the Google Play Store on Tuesday after a temporary governmentimposed ban expired at midnight on June 22The app became available for download on Android devices after being blocked for a week as part of measures linked to the NEETUG 2026 reexamination Some existing users had already begun regaining access to the platform before its formal restoration on the Play StoreHowever Telegram remained unavailable on Apples App Store till around 10 am on Tuesday Apple did not immediately respond to queries regarding the delay in restoring access to the applicationThe Centre had temporarily blocked Telegram and its associated web services from June 16 to June 22 following concerns raised by authorities over alleged misuse of the platform during the examination processBan linked to NEET examination concernsThe government ordered the temporary restriction after the National Testing Agency NTA raised concerns that Telegram was being used by organised cheating networks to circulate fake examination papers spread misleading information and defraud candidatesAccording to officials representatives of Telegram met government authorities on June 3 during which concerns regarding examinationrelated content and platform misuse were discussedFollowing the meeting the Centre directed internet service providers and app stores to block Telegram and its webbased services until June 22Authorities said the measures were taken as a precautionary step ahead of the NEETUG 2026 reexamination which was conducted on June 21Messageediting feature to remain disabledWhile the messaging platform itself has been restored restrictions on one of Telegrams key features will continue for another weekThe government has directed Telegram to keep its messageediting feature disabled until June 30Officials said the measure was intended to prevent the alteration of messages that could potentially be used to spread misinformation or facilitate examinationrelated fraudThe NTA had argued that both the temporary suspension of the platform and the disabling of the editing feature were necessary to protect the integrity of the examination process and maintain public orderNo major irregularities reported after reexaminationThe NEETUG reexamination was conducted on June 21 and authorities have so far reported no major incidents of paper leaks or organised fraudulent activities linked to the testGovernment sources indicated that there has been no extension of the original blocking order and that Telegrams restoration followed the expiry of the temporary banThe platforms return marks the end of one of the most significant restrictions imposed on a major messaging application in India in recent yearsDelhi High Court upheld governments decisionEarlier this month the Delhi High Court upheld the Centres decision to temporarily block Telegram and disable its messageediting featureThe court dismissed a petition filed by Telegram FZ LLC challenging the restrictions and held that the government had followed the procedure prescribed under Section 69A of the Information Technology ActGiven 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 noncommunication of reasons cannot be sustained the Delhi High Court saidThe restrictions had been imposed following recommendations from the National Testing Agency and the Ministry of Home AffairsTelegram founder criticises banTelegram founder and chief executive Pavel Durov criticised the governments decision to temporarily ban the platform arguing that the action penalised millions of users because of the actions of a small number of individualsDurov also alleged that commercial interests may have influenced the move claiming that competitors had lobbied against Telegram However no evidence supporting the allegation has been made publicWith the temporary ban now lifted Telegram has resumed operations in India although the platform will continue to operate without its messageediting feature until the end of JuneWith inputs from Agencies