Telegram Lifts Back Online in India After Exam-Linked Shutdown Comes to an End

India’s Telegram ban put in place to stop exam paper leaks quietly ended on June 22, leaving millions of users rushing back to the platform, though some still face glitches and the Apple App Store listing remains missing.

Telegram Blocked Amid Medical Entrance Exam Scandal

Telegram resumed operations across India on Tuesday after a government-imposed block lifted on June 22. The temporary ban was enforced by India’s National Testing Agency, the body that oversees major entrance examinations for higher education institutions. Authorities directed the messaging platform to go dark specifically during a re-examination window for medical college aspirants.

The original test had taken place in May. However its results were annulled following a massive question paper leak scandal that shook the country’s exam infrastructure to its core.

Government Steps In After Smaller Measures Fail

India’s National Testing Agency confirmed that the government moved to restrict Telegram at the platform level only after smaller interventions fell short. Earlier coordinated removal requests targeting channels spreading fake answer keys failed to stop the flood of leaked material circulating on the app.

The Delhi High Court weighed in on the matter and ruled that the government’s decision to impose the temporary Telegram ban was justified. The court found that the block was appropriate given the emergency nature of the situation and had followed due process.

App Returns to Android, But Not Yet on iPhone

“The messaging app Telegram started working for some registered users on Tuesday, after its temporary block was lifted on June 22,” as reported by Deccan Herald.

On Tuesday, Telegram became available once again for download through Google Play on Android devices. However it had still not returned to the Apple App Store for iPhone users as of the same day.

Patchy Connectivity Still Reported

Some Telegram users in India continued reporting intermittent access issues even after the formal lifting of the ban. The platform’s full restoration appears to be gradual rather than a clean instant switch-on.

Observers noted that there was little chance of the ban being extended further given that the re-examination it was tied to had already concluded.