Google reinstated the instant messaging app Telegram on Tuesday morning,following the end of a government-imposed ban that lasted until midnight on June 22 . Prior to this restoration, some existing users were still able to access the platform, while Telegram remained unavailable on the Apple App Store until around 10:00 IST . An inquiry sent to Apple seeking clarification did not elicit an immediate response .
The ban was enacted by the Indian government due to Telegram's inability to curb spread of fake examination papers related to the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and other misleading content that disrupted the examination process. Officials had raised these concerns with Telegram representatives during a meeting on June 3,leading to decision to block the app and its associated web links until June 22 .
In addition to ban,Telegram was instructed to disable its message editing feature until June 30. NEET re-examination took place on June 21, and as of now, there have been no reports of fraudulent activities linked to the app during this period. Despite the ban, Telegram's founder,Pavel Durov,criticized the Indian IT ministry for the week-long suspension,suggesting that competitive pressures from companies like Reliance,which has ties to Meta,may have influenced decision .
As the situation unfolds, the government has indicated that there will be no changes or extensions to the existing order . The reinstatement of Telegram marks a significant shift in the app's availability in India, albeit under continued scrutiny.
