Is your Telegram not working? Here is when it will start working again
Follow UsTelegram has been temporarily blocked in India by the government until 22 June 2026
The ban is linked to the NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination on 21 June
Access will be restored on 22 June
If Telegram has stopped working on your phone, you are not alone and there is nothing wrong with your device or internet connection. The Indian government has temporarily blocked access to Telegram across the country and the ban is in effect until 22 June 2026. In this article we will tell you why is Telegram not working in India, when will it start working again and why did the government put a temporary ban on Telegram.
SurveyWhy is Telegram not working in India?
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has blocked Telegram under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000 on the recommendation of the National Testing Agency (NTA). The ban was put in place because cheating rackets were using Telegram channels to defraud students appearing for the NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination which is scheduled for 21 June. These channels were charging students anywhere from a few thousand to several lakhs of rupees, falsely claiming to sell access to the NEET (UG) question paper in advance.
The government tried taking down individual fraudulent channels first, but the problem kept resurfacing. So a platform-wide block was described as a last resort, specifically timed around the examination window.
When will Telegram start working again?
Telegram access in India will be restored on 22 June, the day after the NEET re-examination. However, there is one additional restriction that stays in place beyond that date. Telegram’s message-editing feature will remain disabled in India until 30 June. This does not affect your ability to send or receive new messages, it only prevents editing of messages that have already been posted. The reason for this specific measure is that fraudsters had been using the edit function to insert exam papers into old posts after an exam concludes, making it look like the paper had been leaked beforehand in an attempt to attract students preparing for the NEET (UG) exam.
What can you do in the meantime?
Until 22 June, Telegram will not load in India regardless of which network or device you use. There is no workaround within standard usage. If you need to stay in touch with groups or contacts you normally reach through Telegram, WhatsApp, Signal or other messaging apps are alternatives for the next couple of days. The ban is temporary and limited in scope and it will lift automatically once the examination has concluded.
Also Read: India bans Telegram over NEET re-examination row: Full story in 5 points
