The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has instructed Telegram to promptly address pirated films and OTT content and furnish a report within 15 days. This action is aimed at safeguarding India’s creator economy, film sector, broadcasters, OTT platforms, producers, and distributors from the negative effects of digital piracy. Previously, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology had blocked Telegram in India until June 22 as a precautionary step before the NEET-UG 2026 re-exam.
Significantly, the Delhi High Court upheld the government’s decision to temporarily suspend Telegram’s services nationwide before the NEET (UG) 2026 re-exam, emphasizing that the government had adhered to legal procedures while invoking emergency blocking powers. Dismissing a petition by Telegram FZ LLC against the MeitY blocking order, Justice Tejas Karia affirmed the temporary suspension of the messaging platform and the disabling of its message-editing feature were warranted given the circumstances surrounding the medical entrance examination.
Following the reinstatement of the application on the ‘Play Store’ in India after June 22, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has now issued a directive to Telegram. This move comes shortly after the government sent a notice to Meta concerning the proposed introduction of its username feature on WhatsApp. Meta has been advised not to introduce the “usernames” feature in India until consultations are finalized.
In response to the government’s notice, WhatsApp has clarified that its upcoming username feature will be optional and assured that various safeguards have been implemented to prevent impersonation, scams, and unwanted contact as it readies for a broader rollout later this year.
