India's temporary restriction on the Telegram messaging platform expires on Monday, June 22, as the NEET UG 2026 retest concludes across the country after weeks of uncertainty triggered by a multi-state paper leak. The ban, imposed under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, was upheld by the Delhi High Court on Friday in an extraordinary ruling that backed the government's argument that Telegram was being systematically used to circulate fake exam papers and defraud students.
The NEET Paper Leak Crisis
The crisis began when the original NEET UG 2026 exam was cancelled after evidence emerged of a coordinated multi-state paper leak operation. Investigations revealed that leaked question papers were being circulated through Telegram channels, with organised networks selling access to the papers before the exam. The National Testing Agency (NTA), already under scrutiny following paper leak controversies in previous years, was forced to cancel the original exam and schedule a retest for nearly 22 lakh candidates — one of the largest such exercises in Indian education history.
The Telegram Ban
The government invoked Section 69A of the IT Act to direct telecom and internet service providers to block access to Telegram within Indian jurisdiction. The ban was framed as a temporary emergency measure to prevent the further spread of fake NEET papers and exam-related fraud in the lead-up to the June 21 retest. The Delhi High Court, while upholding the restriction, acknowledged the extraordinary circumstances but directed that the ban be time-bound, with the restriction automatically lapsing on June 22 — the day after the retest concluded.
The Retest: Relief and Lingering Nerves
The NEET retest, held on June 21 under heightened security, marked the end of a stressful ordeal for millions of students and their families. The NTA implemented additional security measures including increased surveillance, quicker processing of results, and stricter identification protocols at test centres across the country. For students in Latur, Maharashtra — the epicentre of the original leak — the shadow of the scandal lingered even as they sat for the retest, with many expressing a mix of relief at finally being able to take the exam and nervousness about the outcome after weeks of uncertainty.
VPN Usage Surges
The Telegram ban had an unexpected side effect: a massive surge in VPN app downloads in India. ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and other VPN providers reported up to 300% increases in downloads from Indian users during the ban period, as users sought ways to bypass the restriction. This has sparked a broader debate about digital rights and government surveillance powers, with critics arguing that the ban was a blunt instrument that affected millions of legitimate Telegram users beyond those involved in exam fraud.
What Happens Next
With the ban expiring today, Telegram services are expected to be restored across Indian telecom networks. The NTA will now begin processing the retest results, with results expected in the coming weeks. The episode has also reignited discussions about the security of India's high-stakes examination system and whether the NTA needs structural reforms to prevent future leaks. The government has indicated it may consider legislation specifically targeting exam-related cyber fraud.
