India bans Telegram until June 22 after NEET cheating links
The Indian government has banned Telegram nationwide until June 22, 2026, after the app was linked to cheating networks ahead of the NEET re-exam on June 21.
This follows last month's cancelation of NEET results for approximately 2.3 million students after authorities launched investigations into allegations that question papers had been leaked before the examination.
India disables Telegram edits amid criticism
Telegram was ordered to disable its message-editing feature for all Indian users until June 30, 2026, and Google and Apple have been told to remove the app from their stores.
While the move aims to stop cheating, groups like the Internet Freedom Foundation say blocking all of Telegram is "disproportionate" and will disrupt legitimate study groups, calling it a quick fix instead of addressing deeper issues.