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New Delhi, 23 June 2026: Messaging platform Telegram became available again on Google Play Store on Tuesday. Due to the re-examination of NEET UG 2026, the government had imposed a temporary ban on this messaging app for about a week. On the request of the National Testing Agency (NTA), the government had ordered to temporarily block Telegram from June 16 to 22. The government agency alleged that an organized cheating gang was using this platform to mislead and cheat the candidates appearing in the re-examination of NEET-UG 2026 to be held on June 21.

According to reports, currently the app has arrived on the Play Store, but the ban on the edit message feature of this platform will continue till June 30. However, the app has not yet arrived on the Apple App Store. Last week, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology blocked Telegram in India till June 22 as a precautionary measure ahead of the NEET re-examination.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) said on Tuesday, “This step has been taken in response to the organized use of the platform by cheating rackets, who were trying to defraud the candidates appearing in the re-examination of NEET UG 2026 to be held on June 21, 2026.” On Friday, the Delhi High Court had justified the Central Government’s decision to impose a temporary ban on Telegram services across India before the re-examination of NEET UG 2026.

Dismissing Telegram FZ-LLC’s plea challenging the blocking order of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, a single-judge bench of Justice Tejas Kariyani had said that in view of the situation to the nationwide medical entrance exam, blocking the messaging platform till June 22 and keeping its message-editing feature closed till June 30 is an appropriate step.