Telegram Ban Lifted But Partially — Here's What Users Should Do Now

Telegram Ban Lifted in India: Unban Date and Steps to Follow Now

India's IT ministry blocked Telegram on June 16, 2026. The reason? A leaked NEET-UG 2026 medical entrance exam paper. The ban hit over 150 million Indian users overnight. The block was set to run until June 22. The NEET re-exam happened on June 21. But the Telegram ban lifted only in parts — and millions of users are still confused. The restrictions remain till June 23, which has made things worse.

Source: X Post 

Here's the full story, what's working, and what you need to do right now.

Why Was Telegram Banned in India?

The NEET-UG 2026 exam, held on May 3, got cancelled. Officials traced the paper leak across multiple states. It was identified as a key platform used to spread the leaked content.

India's IT ministry issued a block order on June 16. It was meant to last one week — until June 22. That deadline passed. Yet many users still can't access the app.

The ban punished 150 million regular users. The people behind the actual leak? Still free.

What Did Pavel Durov Say About the Ban?

Nothing. Pavel Durov, the CEO, has stayed completely silent since June 16. No post. No statement. No response to the Indian government.

The Indian government hasn't said much either. No clear unban date. No public plan. That silence has made things worse. Users don't know what's happening or when it'll end.

Is the Telegram Ban Lifted Fully Now?

Not entirely. According to Reuters, the platform is gradually coming back for Indian users. The app is now available again on Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Many users report messages are delivering normally. But some still can't open chats or send messages — even after the restrictions have eased.

The original plan suggested full functionality by June 30.

What Should You Do If Telegram Still Isn't Working?

Try these steps if you're still facing issues:

• Refresh the app — Close the app fully and reopen it
• Clear app cache — Go to phone settings, find the app, and clear cached data
• Reinstall the app — Delete and download a fresh version from Play Store or App Store
• Use a VPN temporarily — Many users accessed the app this way during the full block period
• Check your internet connection — Switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data to test

A simple app refresh fixed the issue for many users, as per available reports.

What Happened to Crypto During this Ban?

Here's the surprising part — crypto didn't crash.

Toncoin, now rebranded as GRAM, is currently trading at $1.68. It saw an intraday surge of over 4%. Market cap sits at $4.54 billion. The 24-hour trading volume reached $51.07 million.

Source: CoinMarketCap Data 

Tap-to-earn games stayed active through VPN. The Telegram daily quiz, combos, and bonus features kept running without major disruption. Xenea Wallet, Binance Red Packet, and Binance Word of the Day all worked normally.

No major losses hit the TON blockchain. Individuals who used VPN saw zero downtime.

Telegram Ban Lifted in India — But Not Fully for Everyone

The Telegram ban lifted, but it's messy. Some are back to normal. Others are still locked out. The June 30 date for full restoration is still the most likely target. Pavel Durov's silence is strange. A platform with 150 million Indian community went dark — and the CEO said nothing. That alone raises questions.

Expert Opinion: The one-week exposed a bigger problem — blocking an entire platform to handle a leak doesn't stop the leak. It just moves it. Other apps filled the gap immediately. The real issue is exam security infrastructure, not the messaging platform. Policymakers may want to consider targeted action rather than blanket bans that affect millions of ordinary people.

YMYL Disclaimer: This report covers a live and developing situation. Details around the unban date and crypto prices may change rapidly. Toncoin/GRAM prices mentioned reflect data available at the time of writing and should not be treated as financial advice. Always verify current information from official sources before making any financial or legal decisions.