Telegram has been removed from the Google Play Store in India following the Centre's decision to temporarily restrict access to the messaging platform ahead of the NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination, preventing new Android users from downloading the application through Google's official marketplace.
The messaging platform, however, continued to remain available on Apple's App Store at the time of reporting, creating a divergence in app availability across major mobile operating systems.
The development follows government action aimed at curbing alleged examination-related fraud, misinformation campaigns and cheating networks that authorities claim were operating through the platform.
Restriction Linked to NEET Re-Examination
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), acting on recommendations from the National Testing Agency (NTA), recently imposed a temporary restriction on Telegram until June 22.
According to the NTA, the measure was introduced under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, and covers the period leading up to and immediately following the NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination scheduled for June 21.
Authorities alleged that several Telegram channels, groups and automated bots were being used to spread misinformation regarding examination paper leaks and to solicit money from students by promising advance access to question papers.
The agency has repeatedly maintained that no NEET question paper was leaked and described claims circulating on social media as fraudulent.
Officials said the temporary restriction was imposed after targeted enforcement actions against individual channels and groups were found insufficient to address the scale of the problem.
Message Editing Feature Also Disabled
In addition to restricting access to the platform, authorities directed Telegram to disable its message-editing feature in India until June 30.
The NTA argued that the feature had previously been exploited to create fabricated evidence of paper leaks by allowing users to modify older messages and replace attachments while preserving original timestamps.
According to the agency, such manipulation could falsely create the impression that examination papers had been circulated before the test.
The NTA credited the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), state police forces and other enforcement agencies with identifying and acting against networks allegedly involved in examination-related fraud.
Investigations into suspected scams linked to social media and messaging platforms are currently underway in multiple states.
The government has described the restrictions as a temporary and calibrated measure aimed at protecting the integrity of one of the country's largest entrance examinations while minimising disruption to legitimate users of the platform.
