Telegram Blocked In India Ahead Of NEET UG 2026 Re-Exam, Experts Say VPN Access Still Works

Telegram became inaccessible for many users across India on Wednesday after the government temporarily restricted access to the messaging platform ahead of the NEET UG 2026 re-examination. While the app has been removed from major app stores, cybersecurity experts say users can still access Telegram through Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), raising questions about the effectiveness of the move.

Government Restricts Telegram Ahead Of NEET Re-Exam

The Centre directed Google and Apple to remove Telegram from their respective app stores until June 22. The decision comes just days before the NEET UG 2026 re-examination, which is scheduled to be held on June 21.

The National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts the medical entrance examination, is preparing for the re-test after the original NEET UG exam held on May 3 was cancelled amid allegations of a paper leak.

Authorities believe restricting Telegram could help prevent the circulation of leaked question papers and misinformation during the examination process.

Experts Say VPNs Keep The Platform Accessible

Despite the restrictions, cybersecurity professionals argue that the ban may have limited impact. According to them, Telegram remains functional for users who access the service through VPN connections that route traffic through servers located outside India.

Jiten Jain said, "Blocking of Telegram will not help the paper leak. It continues to be operational on VPNs which bypass Indian servers and connect with foreign servers for operations."

The observation has reignited discussions over whether platform-level restrictions are an effective solution to curb exam-related leaks and online misconduct.

Message Editing Feature Also Faces Curbs

In addition to removing the app from digital marketplaces, the government has reportedly instructed Telegram to disable its message-editing feature in India until June 30.

Officials suspect that the feature may have been used to alter messages after examinations and create misleading claims suggesting that leaked papers had been circulated before the tests. The temporary restriction is aimed at preventing such incidents during the ongoing examination cycle.

Pavel Durov Questions The Decision

Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov criticised the temporary restriction, arguing that it targets ordinary users rather than those responsible for wrongdoing.

In a social media post, Durov stated that the week-long measure penalises more than 150 million Telegram users in India instead of focusing on individuals involved in paper leak activities. He further claimed that the decision may have been influenced by business interests linked to rival messaging platforms.

However, a senior telecom industry official rejected the allegation and described the claims as "fake news". The official said Durov had mistakenly confused Reliance Communications with Reliance Industries Limited, dismissing suggestions of corporate influence behind the government's decision.

As the NEET UG re-examination approaches, the debate continues over whether restricting access to communication platforms can effectively prevent exam malpractice or simply push users towards alternative methods of communication.