Govt Imposes Temporary Ban On Telegram Ahead Of NEET Re-Exam To Curb Fraud

The Central Government has imposed temporary restrictions on Telegram in India following recommendations from the National Testing Agency (NTA), citing concerns over examination fraud and misinformation linked to the upcoming NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination. The move comes as authorities intensify efforts to curb alleged cheating networks that have been using the messaging platform to target students with false promises of leaked question papers and other fraudulent claims.

In a statement issued on June 16, the NTA said the measures are limited in scope and duration, aimed specifically at safeguarding the integrity of the national medical entrance examination scheduled for June 21.

Temporary Restrictions Announced Ahead of NEET Re-Exam

According to the NTA, the government has issued two separate directions concerning Telegram. The first involves restricting access to the platform in India for a limited period ending June 22, covering the examination day and the immediate aftermath.

The second direction requires Telegram to disable its message-editing feature in India until June 30. Authorities argue that the feature has been repeatedly exploited to create misleading evidence of so-called paper leaks after examinations have already concluded.

Welcoming the decision, the NTA stated, "Both measures have been taken in the interest of public order, in response to the organised use of the platform by cheating rackets to defraud candidates appearing for the NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination scheduled on 21 June 2026."

The agency added that the action would help ensure safe and secure conduct of the examination.

I4C, MeitY and State Agencies Coordinate Crackdown

The NTA credited the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), operating under the Ministry of Home Affairs, for leading the operational response against Telegram-based fraud networks. Working with state law enforcement agencies, including police units in Bihar, Gujarat and Rajasthan, officials reportedly monitored public channels, groups and bots advertising examination-related scams.

The agency said numerous Telegram channels and groups promoting fraudulent services were removed through coordinated efforts involving I4C and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).

Highlighting the role of various agencies, the NTA noted, "The intelligence-sharing and coordinated take-down action led by the Ministry of Home Affairs, through I4C, and MeitY has been continuous, prompt and substantive, and remains the operational backbone of the response."

Officials said the latest restrictions were introduced only after previous channel-level enforcement actions failed to adequately address the problem.

Authorities Warn Against Fake 'Paper Leak' Claims

The NTA also raised concerns about several Telegram channels openly claiming to provide access to the NEET re-examination paper in exchange for money. Authorities said such channels demanded amounts ranging from a few thousand rupees to several lakh rupees from students and their families.

Among the names reportedly used by these groups were "PAPER LEAKED NEET", "Re-NEET 2026", "Private Mafia" and "REE NEET MAFIAA".

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has welcomed the Ministry of Electronics and ITs directions restricting Telegram access in India until June 22, 2026, ahead of the NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination on June 21 pic.twitter.com/TkCFPQjl29

— IANS (@ians_india) June 16, 2026

Reiterating its position, the NTA stated that no examination paper exists outside the secured examination chain before the test.

"The promise of any such material is, in every instance, a fraud," the agency said, urging students and parents not to fall victim to such schemes.

The Bihar Police Economic Offences Unit had also issued a public advisory earlier this month warning candidates about fraudulent claims linked to examination leaks.

Message Editing Feature Under Scrutiny

A key focus of the government's action is Telegram's message-editing capability. Authorities claim that the feature allows administrators to alter previously posted messages and even replace attached files while retaining the original timestamp.

Investigators allege that this functionality has been misused in several recent examinations to fabricate evidence suggesting that question papers were circulated before an exam took place.

Explaining the concern, the NTA said that administrators have allegedly edited older, harmless messages after examinations were completed and inserted actual question papers, creating the appearance that the content had been posted earlier.

The agency said the temporary suspension of the feature is intended to prevent the creation and circulation of such misleading "paper leak" narratives during the post-examination period.

With the NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination approaching, authorities maintain that the restrictions are narrowly tailored, temporary in nature and designed solely to protect candidates and preserve confidence in the examination process.