- India blocked Telegram until June 22 to prevent cheating in exams
- The blockage has sparked a surge in VPN usage as citizens look for workarounds.
- Telegram is now challenging the order in court
Millions of internet users in India are turning to VPN after the government ordered a temporary block of popular messaging platform Telegram.
David Peterson, Managing Director of Proton VPN, has already confirmed a +150% spike above normal levels, noting the rapid influx of new users trying to circumvent the sudden censorship.
For everyday internet users, this highlights the importance of a reliable system The VPN service has become intended to maintain uninterrupted access to basic communication tools. A virtual private network hides your real IP address and routes your connection through a secure server in another country, allowing you to easily unblock restricted apps like Telegram.
Hourly .@ProtonVPN registrations in India increased by 150% on Thursday evening as MeitY blocks Telegram for 150 million users over leaked exam questions. pic.twitter.com/vdG2tEJaklJune 16, 2026
The temporary restriction, which applies until June 22, 2026, was implemented by India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to prevent cheating ahead of the controversial NEET-UG medical entrance re-examination.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) called for the ban, saying bad actors were using the app’s message editing feature to spread fake exam papers and fake leak evidence. In response, Telegram is challenging the Indian government’s order in the Delhi High Court to restore the service.
The BGP hijacking controversy
The technical application of the ban has also sparked major controversy, the impact of which extends well beyond India’s borders. To enforce the blockade, Indian Internet service providers allegedly resorted to tampering with global Internet traffic routes.
Doug Madory, Director of Internet Analytics at Kentik, Reliance Telecom reported that India’s “AS18101 hijacked BGP routes owned by Telegram.” BGP, or Border Gateway Protocol, is the underlying system that directs traffic on the Internet. When a provider hijacks these routes, it essentially creates a false detour, sending traffic into a black hole.
This method caused serious collateral damage, accidentally blocking Telegram for users in countries like the United Arab Emirates. Telegram CEO Pavel Durov publicly condemned the move, saying the Indian telecom company was sabotaging global access and advising network operators around the world to reject unauthorized Internet routing announcements.
India’s record on internet restrictions
While the blocking of Telegram makes international headlines, sudden internet shutdowns are commonplace in India. According to According to a study conducted by Surfshark, India ranks first in Asia and the world in terms of the number of restrictions.
Since 2015, the country has implemented at least 170 internet restrictions, far outpacing other countries. In June 2026 alone, the government implemented localized internet shutdowns in Uttarakhand, Jaipur and Haryana to maintain law and order. It should be noted that localized restrictions in Jammu and Kashmir are counted separately.
Telegram is also no stranger to censorship. Besides India, the messaging app has been blocked in other countries around the world. Historically, around 30 different countries have disrupted the platform at least once, often during periods of political unrest or highly controversial national events.
For consumers, the takeaway is clear: as governments increasingly resort to app bans and network spoofing, installing a secure VPN on your devices is no longer just an added layer of privacy; it is a mandatory tool to keep your digital life online.
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