TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Messaging platform Telegram approached the Delhi High Court on Tuesday to challenge the Indian government's order temporarily blocking the app ahead of a retest of a nationwide medical college entrance examination, according to a report by Indian news outlet Bar and Bench.
According to the report citing Madhav Khosla, the lawyer representing Telegram, the court agreed to hear the matter today on an urgent basis.
Khosla told the Bench that Telegram has over 150 million users who have been affected by the government's ban.
Telegram has yet to officially comment about the temporary ban.
Why is the Indian government blocking Telegram?
Last month, the authorities cancelled the NEET exam, which students need to qualify to take admissions to medical colleges across India, after they found its question paper was leaked.
The cancellation of the exam sparked protests in the country following media reports of suicides among students.
The government blocked Telegram until June 22 saying the app was used to "defraud candidates" appearing for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) medical entrance test.
The measure on Telegram was taken "in response to the organized use of the platform by cheating rackets to defraud candidates appearing for the NEET 2026 re-examination scheduled on 21 June 2026," said the Ministry of Education's National Testing Agency.
Telegram has seen rapid growth in India, making the country its biggest market by download, though WhatsApp remains the dominant messaging platform.
Read: India Blocks Telegram Ahead of Nationwide Entrance Exam
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
India Blocks Telegram Ahead of Nationwide Entrance Exam
1 hari lalu
The Indian government said Telegram was used to "defraud candidates" taking the NEET medical entrance exam.
Student's Revenge in a Telegram Group
27 Maret 2026
A student involved in terrorism is suspected of exposure to violence in Telegram groups. Membership in the groups has reached 87
WhatsApp to Add Long-Awaited Scheduled Message Feature
26 Februari 2026
Tech company Meta is preparing a scheduled messaging feature for WhatsApp, one of the most requested features by users.
Russia Blocks YouTube and WhatsApp
13 Februari 2026
More websites and messaging apps are blocked in Russia, leaving users to find workarounds and question the future of the internet.
Russia Moves to Block WhatsApp, Pushes State-Backed rival
12 Februari 2026
WhatsApp says Russia has tried to block the app in an attempt to steer users toward a state-backed "national messenger."
Telegram CEO Vows to Fight for App Amid Russia Pressure
11 Februari 2026
Telegram's CEO said he will not be fazed by Russian attempts to limit access to the popular messaging app used by newsmakers of all kinds.
Russia Threatens Full Ban on WhatsApp, Promotes State-Backed MAX
3 Desember 2025
Roskomnadzor, the Russian communication regulatory body, is threatening to ban WhatsApp amid increasing digital control by the Kremlin and the massive promotion of the MAX application.
Russia Requires Switch to MAX, Dropping WhatsApp and Telegram
15 Agustus 2025
Technology experts suspect that the Russian government is using the MAX app to control the internet.
Indonesian Police Block Over 10,000 Child Sexual Abuse Materials on Internet
18 Juli 2025
The Minister of Communication and Digital, Meutya Hafid, revealed that Indonesia ranks fourth in the world for child sexual abuse materials.
Telegram Founder Pavel Durov Plans to Leave Fortune to Over 100 Children He Fathered
26 Juni 2025
The founder of the instant messaging app Telegram, Pavel Durov, revealed that over 100 of his biological children will inherit his wealth.
