Recently, several social media posts claimed that the Telegram app has been banned in India.
However, upon investigation, we found that the claim was misleading. Here’s the fact check.
Fact Check
A relevant keyword search led us to a tweet on the official X handle of the ANI on June 16, 2026.
The tweet read, “Telegram access restricted in India for re- NEET following recommendations of NTA
“Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has issued notification a direction under Section 69 A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, restricting access to the Telegram platform in India for a defined and limited period ending 22 June 2026, covering the day of the NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination and its immediate aftermath. A direction requiring the platform to disable, in India, the message-editing feature in respect of messages already posted, for a defined period ending 30 June 2026, addressing the specific structural feature through which the platform has been used to fabricate after-the-event “paper leak” evidence in respect of national examinations. : National Testing Agency (NTA)”.
According to a report published in India Today, the Telegram app has been temporarily blocked in India ahead of the NEET UG 2026 re-test.
“…The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has issued two separate directions.
The first restricts access to Telegram in India until June 22, covering the examination period and the immediate aftermath.
The second requires Telegram to disable editing of already-posted messages in India until June 30…”, the India Today report stated.
Furthermore, we found the press release from the National Testing Agency (NTA) dated June 16, 2026. It stated,
1. The National Testing Agency (NTA) welcomes the directions issued today in respect of the Telegram platform in India. The directions, issued on recommendations of NTA are calibrated and bounded in time:
(a) a direction under Section 69 A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, restricting access to the Telegram platform in India for a defined and limited period ending 22 June 2026, covering the day of the NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination and its immediate aftermath; and
(b) a direction requiring the platform to disable, in India, the message-editing feature in respect of messages already posted, for a defined period ending 30 June 2026, addressing the specific structural feature through which the platform has been used to fabricate after-the-event “paper leak” evidence in respect of national examinations…”
Moreover, the press release clearly stated that the access restriction is, by its express terms, confined to the period ending June 22, 2026 – i.e., the day after the examination. The feature-specific direction in respect of the message editing function, which remains in force through 30 June 2026, does not affect ordinary use of the platform for sending or receiving new messages.
This makes it clear that the Telegram app has not been banned permanently in India.
Conclusion
From our investigation, we can say that the claim is misleading. The Telegram app has not been permanently banned in India. Access to the Telegram app has been restricted in India until June 22, 2026, ahead of the NEET re-test.
Title: Telegram App Banned In India? Here’s The Fact-Check.
Fact Check By: Debanjana Baishya
Result: Misleading
