Telegram founder Pavel Durov has sharply criticised India's decision to temporarily block the messaging platform, arguing that the ban affected more than 150 million ordinary users without addressing the root cause of exam paper leaks.
The controversy comes just days before India's rescheduled NEET-UG medical entrance examination, with authorities insisting the measure is necessary to prevent the spread of leaked papers, fake exam material and misinformation.
Speaking publicly on Tuesday, Durov said the temporary restrictions on Telegram had failed to achieve their intended objective.
"The ban has not stopped anything and the leaks simply moved to other apps," Durov wrote on X.
According to Durov, shutting down access to Telegram punished millions of ordinary users while those responsible for distributing leaked content simply migrated to alternative platforms.
The French-Russian entrepreneur, who has long positioned Telegram as a free-speech-focused alternative to mainstream social media platforms, argued that blocking an entire platform was an ineffective solution to a targeted problem.
While criticising the ban, Durov did not deny that Telegram had been used to circulate leaked examination material. Instead, he questioned whether blocking access for millions of users was an appropriate response when bad actors could easily move elsewhere.
India blocks Telegram ahead of NEET re-examination
India temporarily restricted Telegram after authorities alleged that the platform was being used to spread leaked question papers, fake exam content and misleading information related to the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET).
The action was taken just one week before hundreds of thousands of students are due to sit for the rescheduled NEET-UG examination.
By Tuesday morning, users across India reported being unable to access Telegram. The application became unavailable for many users, while Google removed Telegram from its Play Store following government directives. Reports also suggested that Apple was expected to take similar action.
For millions of Indians who rely on Telegram daily, the platform effectively stopped functioning without any in-app explanation.
Govt invokes IT Act powers
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology invoked Section 69A of India's Information Technology Act, 2000, the same legal provision previously used to ban TikTok and several other platforms.
The directive was reportedly issued following recommendations from the National Testing Agency (NTA), which has faced intense scrutiny since the NEET paper leak controversy first emerged.
Also Read: India temporarily blocks Telegram over medical exam fraud
Authorities said Telegram channels were being used by fraudsters attempting to exploit students through fake question papers and manipulated messages.
According to officials, some users edited messages to create the impression that examination papers had leaked before the exam, potentially misleading students and investigators.
Suspension of message-editing feature
Beyond blocking access, the government reportedly made a second unusual demand: Telegram must disable its message-editing feature until June 30, 2026.
Officials believe the feature could be used to alter timestamps or modify messages after exams, making it more difficult to trace the origin of leaked content.
The request suggests authorities are particularly concerned about preserving evidence trails and preventing manipulation of examination-related communications.
Telegram has not publicly rejected the request.
NEET controversy remains at center of dispute
The latest action stems from the fallout of the NEET-UG 2024 examination crisis.
Last year, allegations surfaced that examination papers had been leaked before the test. Questions were also raised over grace marks and irregularities in the results.
The controversy triggered protests in several cities, including Patna, Delhi and Kota. India's Supreme Court became involved, while the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) launched criminal investigations.
The National Testing Agency, which had operated for years without major controversy, suddenly found itself under intense public and political pressure.
The upcoming NEET re-examination is scheduled for June 23.
Effectiveness of platform bans
Durov's criticism has reignited a wider debate about whether banning entire platforms is an effective way to combat online misuse.
Supporters of the ban argue that Telegram's large-group functionality could facilitate real-time sharing of exam questions and answers during examinations.
Critics counter that information-sharing networks are highly decentralised and that individuals determined to distribute leaked material can simply move to WhatsApp, Signal, online forums or other messaging services.
Durov maintained that this migration is exactly what occurred after Telegram was restricted.
Observers have compared the move to India's 2020 TikTok ban, which did not eliminate short-form video consumption but instead shifted users toward Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts and domestic alternatives.
Impact extends beyond messaging
The restrictions have affected more than casual users.
Telegram has become an important communication tool for students, educators, journalists, farmers and businesses across India.
Students frequently use the platform for study groups and shared educational resources. Independent educators rely on Telegram channels to distribute course materials, while journalists use it for coordination and sourcing information.
For many users, even a temporary suspension creates significant disruption despite having no connection to the exam leak allegations.
Calls for targeted regulation grow louder
The controversy has also intensified calls for more targeted regulation of online platforms.
Critics argue that authorities should focus on removing specific channels, groups or accounts involved in wrongdoing rather than shutting down entire services.
They contend that platform-wide restrictions disproportionately affect ordinary users while offering limited long-term effectiveness against organised actors.
However, Indian authorities appear to view the temporary ban as part of a broader effort to ensure the integrity of a high-stakes national examination.
India holds significant leverage over Telegram
India represents Telegram's largest market, with an estimated 150 million users. That scale gives Indian regulators considerable influence over the platform.
Analysts note that Durov's criticism is not only about digital rights and free expression but also reflects the commercial importance of India to Telegram's global operations.
Despite his strong public comments, Durov is not expected to pursue immediate legal action against the Indian government.
Telegram has historically preferred to absorb short-term restrictions in key markets rather than engage in lengthy legal battles.
What next?
The temporary restrictions are scheduled to remain in place until June 22, one day before the NEET re-examination. The government's objective is to prevent any recurrence of the 2024 paper leak scandal during the upcoming test.
If the examination proceeds without controversy, officials may cite the Telegram ban as one of several successful security measures.
However, if fresh allegations emerge despite the restrictions, questions about the effectiveness and legality of broad platform-level interventions are likely to intensify.
For now, millions of Indian users remain locked out of Telegram while authorities, students and technology companies closely watch what happens next.
