Telegram vs MeitY: India's five-year battle with encrypted messaging

Key Takeaways

• MeitY temporarily banned Telegram until June 22, 2025 to prevent NEET exam paper leaks, requiring the platform to disable message editing until June 30
• India represents Telegram's largest national market with 150 million monthly active users, roughly 10-15% of its global user base
• Telegram complied with 6,992 legal data disclosure requests from Indian authorities in the first nine months of 2024 alone

India temporarily blocked Telegram until June 22 to prevent exam paper leaks during the rescheduled NEET-UG medical entrance test. The ban, issued under Section 69(A) of the IT Act, also requires Telegram to disable its message editing feature until June 30. Services resumed Tuesday after the exam concluded successfully.

This is MeitY's most severe intervention against the platform to date. The ministry now calls Telegram 'a new dark web,' a label that captures years of accumulated frustration with the UAE-based company's encryption model and reluctant compliance posture.

Why does MeitY keep clashing with Telegram?

The friction comes down to two things: encryption and scale. Telegram's end-to-end encryption in secret chats and its anonymous channel structure make it difficult for authorities to track content distribution. India happens to be Telegram's largest national market, with 150 million monthly active users representing 10-15% of its billion-plus global user base.

That scale makes Telegram attractive for legitimate communication. It also makes it attractive for piracy rings, exam paper leakers, and, according to the NIA, terror networks. The platform's stance on encryption puts it at odds with Indian authorities who want faster takedowns and more data disclosure.

Timeline: Five years of escalating tension

What triggered this specific ban?

The National Testing Agency recommended the block after organised cheating rackets used Telegram to circulate leaked NEET exam materials. This wasn't Telegram's first brush with exam controversies. In June 2024, the UGC-NET exam was cancelled and rescheduled after investigators found papers being sold for Rs 5,000 on the platform.

The message editing restriction is particularly telling. Authorities apparently believe users were altering evidence of illegal content distribution after the fact. By disabling edits until June 30, MeitY ensures any incriminating messages remain intact for investigation.

The numbers paint a stark picture

Complaints involving Telegram reported on the national portal jumped from 75,688 in 2023 to 2.75 lakh total. By May 2025, another 88,000 complaints had already been recorded. The day after MeitY announced the temporary ban on June 16, VPN downloads in India hit 919,000. Users clearly wanted to circumvent the block.

Telegram has bent when pushed. Those 6,992 data disclosure requests Durov mentioned represent a dramatic shift from the platform's earlier non-cooperation stance. In 2019, Telegram refused to hand over ISIS module chat details. By 2024, it was complying with thousands of Indian legal requests.

Where does this leave Telegram in India?

Telegram is back online, but on probation. The platform must continue removing flagged content quickly. The 3,142 channels targeted in the March piracy notice from MIB show that streaming giants like JioCinema and Amazon Prime Video are pushing hard for enforcement. Copyright complaints now arrive in bulk.

The encryption question remains unresolved. MeitY wants more visibility into encrypted communications. Telegram's business model depends on promising users privacy. A 150-million-user market is too valuable to abandon, but compromising encryption undermines the product's core appeal.

Pavel Durov's August 2024 arrest in France added pressure. French authorities investigated the platform over similar concerns about illegal content distribution. That arrest appears to have accelerated Telegram's cooperation with Indian requests. Durov's disclosure of compliance numbers was itself unusual. The company rarely publicized such figures before.

What happens next?

The temporary ban precedent is set. MeitY can now point to Section 69(A) as a tool for platform-wide blocks when specific content concerns warrant it. Other encrypted messaging platforms should take note. If exam security or national security concerns arise, India has shown it will shut down services first and negotiate later.

For Telegram, the calculation is straightforward. Comply enough to stay operational in India, the company's largest national market. Push back enough to maintain credibility with privacy-focused users globally. That balancing act just got harder.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did India ban Telegram temporarily?

MeitY blocked Telegram until June 22, 2025 to prevent cheating rackets from circulating leaked NEET-UG exam papers through the platform. The order was issued under Section 69(A) of the IT Act 'in the interest of public order.'

How many users does Telegram have in India?

Telegram has 150 million monthly active users in India, representing 10-15% of its billion-plus global user base. India is Telegram's largest national market.

Is Telegram still banned in India?

No. Telegram services resumed on Tuesday after the NEET-UG exam concluded successfully on June 21. However, the platform must keep its message editing feature disabled until June 30, 2025.

What did MeitY call Telegram?

Indian government officials and MeitY have characterized Telegram as 'a new dark web' due to its use by piracy rings, exam paper leakers, extortion networks, and illegal gambling operations.

Does Telegram cooperate with Indian authorities?

Yes, increasingly so. Telegram complied with 6,992 legal data disclosure requests from Indian authorities in the first nine months of 2024 alone, a significant shift from its earlier non-cooperation stance.

Source: Tech-Economic Times / ET