Telegram returns to India after NEET re-exam: App goes live again on Google Play Store, but this important feature will remain closed till June 30

The messaging platform Telegram, which was banned across India as a precaution in view of the country’s biggest medical entrance exam ‘NEET UG Re-Examination’, has once again become operational. After the successful completion of NEET re-examination, Telegram app is now officially back on Google Play Store.

On the special request of the National Testing Agency (NTA), the Central Government had recently given a strict order to temporarily block Telegram and its web services across the country from June 16, 2026 to June 22, 2026. It is a matter of relief that the re-examination of NEET has been completed without any hindrance and till now no report of paper leak has come from anywhere. However, despite the return of the app, users will not be able to use one of its important features as it is still banned by the government.

Expressing his sharp reaction to this entire incident and this strict action of the Indian government, Telegram’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Pavel Durov strongly criticized the decision to completely suspend the platform for a week.

After all, why did the government have to ban Telegram?

After serious allegations of question paper and other sensitive content related to it being leaked on social media during the main examination of NEET 2026, the government did not take any risk with the re-exam this time. According to a detailed report by news agency PTI, the government’s stand was very clear that the Telegram platform had completely failed to stop illegal activities like fake NEET papers, misleading information and financial frauds going on in its groups and channels, which was adversely affecting the integrity of the entire examination process. In view of this, on the advice of security agencies, the app was temporarily closed in the country.

‘Message edit’ feature will be blocked till June 30, know the reason

According to official sources, before completely blocking Telegram, top officials of the IT and Home Ministry had held a high-level meeting with global representatives of Telegram on June 3, in which these security concerns were put before them. All the services of Telegram were blocked only after proper response and action was not received.

Along with this, the government had given strict instructions to Telegram to completely shut down its famous ‘Message-Editing’ feature till June 30 to prevent tampering of digital evidence. This simply means that even though the Telegram app has now started downloading in your mobile and messages are coming and going, the option to correct or change the sent messages will remain blocked till the night of June 30.