Why is Telegram Facing Restrictions Ahead of NEET Re-Examination? Insights from NTA and IIT Madras

The National Testing Agency (NTA) and IIT Madras have imposed temporary restrictions on Telegram to prevent exam fraud ahead of the re-NEET examination. This decision follows allegations of manipulated messages suggesting question paper leaks. While the NTA aims to protect the integrity of the examination process, critics argue that the government's actions are disproportionate. With Google removing Telegram from its Play Store and Apple likely to follow, the situation raises questions about the platform's role in academic integrity. NTA officials have detailed how Telegram's editing features have been exploited to mislead students, emphasizing the need for vigilance in the face of such fraudulent activities. Read on to learn more about the implications of these restrictions.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 16, 2026, 20:01 IST

Telegram Restrictions Explained

New Delhi: The National Testing Agency (NTA) and IIT Madras have defended the temporary ban on Telegram in light of the upcoming re-NEET examination. They cited concerns that the platform was misused to create false evidence of question paper leaks through manipulated messages with outdated timestamps.

The Internet Freedom Foundation has criticized this government action, labeling it a superficial fix and an excessive reaction to exam-related fraud.

In response to a government directive, Google has removed Telegram from the Play Store, and Apple is expected to follow suit, according to sources familiar with the situation.

NTA Director General Abhishek Singh explained that the restrictions aim to protect the integrity of the re-NEET exam, which was previously canceled due to allegations of malpractice.

"The main reason for the cancellation and the subsequent re-examination, along with a CBI inquiry, was to uphold the integrity of the NTA examinations and ensure that the rights of diligent students are not compromised," Singh stated in a video message on X.

He acknowledged the inconvenience caused to students required to retake the exam, emphasizing their commitment to conducting the tests securely and reliably.

Singh highlighted concerns regarding Telegram channels that falsely claimed to sell question papers, stating, "Social media is rife with such claims, but we have verified them and found them to be entirely fabricated."

He warned that those behind these channels exploit students and parents by making false promises for monetary gain.

"Anyone claiming to sell you any exam paper is deceiving you," he cautioned.

Singh also pointed out that Telegram's message-editing feature has been used to create misleading impressions that question papers were available prior to the exam.

He recounted an incident from the May 3 NEET exam, where a video circulated post-exam showed a question paper allegedly shared on Telegram two days earlier.

The NTA investigated and confirmed that the question paper in the video had a unique identifier, allowing them to trace it back to a specific candidate who received it under supervision on the exam day.

Singh explained that the NTA was able to verify the entire process, including CCTV footage and attendance records, confirming that the Telegram chat was indeed fabricated.

He noted that Telegram's platform allows channel admins to edit messages while keeping the original timestamp intact, which can mislead viewers.

IIT Madras Director V. Kamakoti elaborated on this vulnerability, explaining that users can edit messages without altering the timestamp, creating confusion.

He mentioned that similar tactics have been observed in other competitive exams, aiming to create panic among candidates.

Kamakoti demonstrated this editing trick live, showing how a file could be replaced without any indication of change, while the timestamp remains the same.

The NTA reiterated that this is how fake leak videos are produced.