New Delhi, 16 June
Government Temporarily Restricts Telegram Access in India Till June 22 Over NEET Exam Fraud Concerns
In a significant cybersecurity and examination security measure, the Government of India has temporarily restricted access to the messaging platform Telegram across the country until June 22, following concerns over alleged exam-related fraud networks linked to NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination activities.
The decision has been taken based on recommendations from the National Testing Agency (NTA) and is aimed at preventing paper leak rumors, cheating syndicates, and misinformation campaigns ahead of the examination scheduled on June 21.
Restriction Imposed Under IT Act Section 69A
According to official sources, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) issued the directive under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, authorizing temporary restriction of access to Telegram in India for a limited period ending June 22.
The restriction is said to cover the exam day and its immediate aftermath to ensure fair conduct of the national-level examination.
Telegram Features Also Temporarily Curbed
In addition to access restrictions, Telegram has reportedly been instructed to disable its message-editing feature in India until June 30.
The National Testing Agency stated that this feature was allegedly misused in the past to fabricate false “paper leak” evidence by editing older messages and attaching files after examinations, while retaining original timestamps.
NTA Cites Threat from Fraud Network; Government Temporarily Restricts Telegram Access in India Till June 22 Over NEET Exam Fraud Concerns
The NTA said the decision was taken after repeated incidents involving Telegram-based groups and bots that allegedly promoted fake exam papers and cheating services.
Several groups reportedly operated under names such as “Paper Leaked NEET,” “Re-NEET 2026,” and “Private Mafia,” demanding payments ranging from thousands to several lakh rupees in exchange for fake question papers.
The agency clarified that no actual paper leak has occurred and warned students against falling for fraudulent claims circulating on social media platforms.
Multi-Agency Cybersecurity Action
The move comes amid coordinated efforts involving the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs, state police forces, and central agencies.
Authorities have reportedly taken down multiple Telegram channels, groups, and automated bots involved in examination-related scams.
Recent actions include arrests by cybercrime units in several states, including Gujarat and Bihar, targeting inter-state fraud networks.
Temporary Measure to Protect Exam Integrity
Officials emphasized that the restrictions are temporary and calibrated to ensure minimum disruption while protecting the integrity of the NEET (UG) 2026 examination process.
The NTA acknowledged that Telegram is widely used for legitimate communication but stated that the extraordinary measure was necessary due to the scale of misuse during the examination period. – Government Temporarily Restricts Telegram Access in India Till June 22 Over NEET Exam Fraud Concerns
Advisory for Students and Public
Students have been advised to avoid unverified information and rely only on official NTA communication channels.
Citizens are also urged to report suspicious activities or fraud attempts via the National Cyber Crime Helpline (1930) or the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
The NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination will proceed as scheduled on June 21, and authorities have assured that all necessary security measures are in place.