After the government temporarily restricted access to Telegram over concerns that cheating networks were using the platform to spread fake paper-leak claims ahead of the NEET-UG re-examination, users rushed to download VPNs and alternative messaging apps instead.
According to app intelligence data cited by the Times of India, downloads of the top 100 VPN apps in India jumped to 919,000 on June 17, a day after the restrictions came into effect — the biggest single-day surge this year.
The restrictions were imposed after the National Testing Agency (NTA) recommended action against Telegram, arguing that organised cheating rackets had used some of the platform's features to defraud students ahead of the June 21 re-examination.
Also Read: Delhi HC upholds Telegram ban in India till June 22 amid NEET re-exam paper leak concerns
Many students supported the move.
"This is a good step, but the main focus should be on the root cause. Those who indulge in leaking examination papers should be identified," a Delhi-based aspirant told ANI.
Another student from Indore said restricting Telegram during the examination period was justified because misinformation and leak claims spread rapidly online, while students in Kota called for closer monitoring of other social media platforms as well.
But not everyone was convinced.
The Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) criticised the move, arguing that a platform-wide restriction was disproportionate and likely to be ineffective because determined users could simply switch to VPNs or alternative services.
The App Figures data suggests that may be exactly what happened.
Proton VPN downloads surged 157% on June 17, while Turbo VPN nearly doubled. Telegram-linked apps such as Telegram X and iMe recorded spikes of 6,509% and 22,018%, respectively. Privacy-focused messaging platform Signal also saw downloads jump 571%.
The data points to a familiar pattern whenever online restrictions are imposed: while authorities seek to curb misuse, users often find technical workarounds almost immediately.
Whether the Telegram restrictions helped protect the integrity of the NEET-UG re-examination is likely to remain a matter of debate. What is clearer from the download numbers is that many users were unwilling to lose access to the platform without looking for alternatives.
