Indian telcos block Telegram, Apple and Google delist app after govt order

India’s major telecom operators on Tuesday began blocking access to Telegram across their networks, while Apple and Google removed the messaging platform from their respective App Store and Play Store listings in India, following directions issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) aimed at curbing examination-related fraud ahead of the NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination.

Sources said Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea had begun implementing the government’s directive to block access to Telegram, with users across India reporting difficulties accessing the messaging platform. Several users on social media platform X said they were unable to connect to the app.

Meanwhile, users attempting to download Telegram found the app unavailable on Google’s Play Store, while Apple had begun the process of removing it from the App Store in compliance with governme...