Pavel Durov criticises NTA curbs, says Telegram ban punishes 150 million Indian users (opens original article in a new tab)

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov criticized India's temporary ban on the app, arguing it harms millions of users rather than those leaking exam materials, while the NTA claims the restrictions prevent misinformation ahead of a major exam.

• Pavel Durov criticized India's temporary Telegram ban, stating it affects 150 million users instead of those leaking exam materials.
• NTA imposed restrictions on Telegram to prevent misinformation about NEET UG 2026, citing leaks of exam questions and fake claims.
• Durov argued that banning Telegram is ineffective as leaks shift to other platforms, questioning the effectiveness of broad restrictions.