VPN providers recorded a surge in downloads across India after the government temporarily blocked access to Telegram over concerns that the messaging platform was being used to facilitate exam-related scams.
According to app intelligence firm Appfigures, Tuesday, the day authorities announced the restriction, marked the strongest day for VPN app downloads in India since at least the beginning of 2025.
Combined downloads of major VPN services rose 49% from a recent daily average of 139,000 to 208,000, the firm said. Proton VPN and Turbo VPN posted some of the largest gains. On Apple's App Store, Proton VPN downloads jumped 113%, while Turbo VPN downloads increased 85%. On Google Play, Proton VPN downloads rose 64%, and Turbo VPN gained 35%.
Other providers also benefited. NordVPN downloads on Apple's App Store increased 41%, while ExpressVPN recorded a 31% rise in Google Play downloads.
The spike also boosted VPN apps in India's app store rankings. Proton VPN climbed from 18th to 5th place in Apple's Utilities category between June 16 and June 18. On Google Play, the app moved from 8th to 2nd position in the Tools category.
The increase followed India's decision to restrict Telegram until June 22 ahead of a retest for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate), one of the country's largest entrance examinations. Authorities said the temporary measure was intended to curb the circulation of fake exam papers and related fraud schemes.
Telegram challenged the order in the Delhi High Court, arguing that regulators should remove specific content rather than block access to the entire platform. The court upheld the government's restriction on Friday.
The impact extended beyond downloads. Proton said registrations from India rose 120% above normal levels on Wednesday after hourly sign-ups had already jumped 150% on Tuesday evening following the announcement.
Canadian VPN provider Windscribe reported similar trends. The company said sign-ups from India peaked at roughly double normal levels, while first-time downloads of its iOS app increased about 89%.
"The spike in India follows the same general trend we see in areas that ban specific apps, introduce age bans or verification requirements, or otherwise restrict internet access," said Rebecca Rosenberg, growth operations manager at Windscribe.
The episode highlights how users increasingly turn to VPN services when access to major digital platforms is restricted, creating immediate demand spikes for privacy and internet access tools.
