After nearly a week of disruption, Telegram is slowly returning for users in India. The messaging app is once again available for download on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store, and many users have reported that messages are being delivered normally again. The restoration comes days after Telegram lost its bid to overturn an Indian government order temporarily banning the app during the NEET-UG re-examination period.
The restrictions, which remained in place from June 16 to June 22, triggered an intense debate in the country over free speech, online platforms and the extent of government powers.
Some Jio and Airtel users are still facing issues
Although Telegram services are gradually returning in India, not everyone appears to have regained access yet. Some users say they are still unable to sign up or access chats even after downloading the app again from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. In some cases, the issue appears to affect users on both Jio and Airtel networks.
Several users have also taken to social media to report the problem. One user wrote on X, “Why is Telegram not working on Airtel Network? Working well in other networks. Please restore Telegram in Airtel Network.”
Another user posted, “Telegram still not working for me without VPN, what about you guys?”
Others, however, report that Telegram is working normally, suggesting that the restoration may still be rolling out gradually across different regions and networks.
Users facing problems can try refreshing the app or updating Telegram to the latest version available on the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
Why was Telegram banned?
The government imposed the ban after the results of the NEET exam for students seeking admission to medical colleges were scrapped last month amid allegations that the question paper had been leaked. According to the government, Telegram posed a unique challenge.
Officials argued that the platform allows blocked channels to be recreated easily and lets users conceal their identities through phone numbers and username-based interactions. These features, the government said, created a “persistent enforcement challenge.”
The restrictions affected only Telegram. Within hours of the order, Indian telecom companies blocked access to the app, while Google and Apple removed Telegram from their app stores.
Court backs the government’s decision
On Friday, Telegram failed to convince a Delhi High Court to overturn the order. The court ruled that the government’s actions were legal and reasonable, accepting its argument that the temporary restrictions were necessary to preserve the integrity of a major national examination.
Telegram says it took action
The ban was preceded by days of private disagreements between Telegram and the Indian government. According to a Reuters report, government officials criticised Telegram for not proactively removing accounts that were allegedly sharing leaked exam papers.
Telegram, however, argued before the Delhi High Court that the government had deliberately omitted details about the company’s own efforts to tackle such content. The company said it had taken down more than 900 links related to unlawful exam-related material.
Telegram founder Pavel Durov also criticised the ban publicly, saying the restrictions punished ordinary users while those responsible for the exam leaks had simply moved elsewhere.
