Why is Telegram Facing Restrictions in India Ahead of NEET (UG) 2026? Uncover the Details!

In a decisive move to tackle examination fraud, the Indian government has temporarily restricted access to Telegram until June 22, following recommendations from the NTA. This action aims to prevent paper leaks and cheating ahead of the NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination scheduled for June 21. The NTA has also mandated the disabling of Telegram's message-editing feature to curb the creation of manipulated evidence. While the agency acknowledges the inconvenience to legitimate users, it emphasizes that these measures are crucial for maintaining the integrity of the examination process. Students are advised to focus on their preparation and rely on official channels for updates.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 16, 2026, 11:57 IST

Government Takes Action Against Telegram to Prevent Exam Fraud

New Delhi: In a significant step to combat examination fraud, the Central government has temporarily restricted access to the messaging app Telegram throughout India until June 22. This decision follows recommendations from the National Testing Agency (NTA) to prevent potential paper leaks and cheating schemes ahead of the NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination set for June 21.

The NTA announced that the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has invoked Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, to enforce this restriction, which will remain in effect during the examination day and shortly thereafter.

Moreover, Telegram has been instructed to disable its message-editing feature in India until June 30. The NTA indicated that this feature has been misused in the past to fabricate evidence of 'paper leaks' by altering older messages and inserting examination papers post-exam while keeping the original timestamps intact.

These measures aim to maintain public order and disrupt organized cheating networks that allegedly exploit the platform to deceive candidates taking the re-examination. The NTA expressed appreciation to MeitY for this timely intervention to ensure a secure examination environment.

The agency also acknowledged the efforts of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), which operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs, in coordinating actions against Telegram-related fraud and misinformation targeting NEET candidates.

The NTA reported that state police forces and its monitoring systems, along with I4C, have successfully removed numerous Telegram channels, groups, and automated bots that promoted fraudulent examination services.

This action, supported by MeitY, is part of a broader inter-agency initiative involving both central and state authorities. The NTA described the intelligence-sharing and enforcement actions taken by I4C and other agencies as vital in mitigating the impact of examination fraud.

The latest restrictions were deemed necessary after previous measures, including targeted takedowns, proved inadequate to tackle the extent of the issue. Officials characterized this as a measured and temporary response to minimize disruptions during this critical examination period.

The NTA alleged that various Telegram channels, operating under names like 'Paper Leaked NEET', 'Re-NEET 2026', and 'Private Mafia', were soliciting payments ranging from a few thousand to several lakh rupees for supposed access to examination papers. The agency reiterated that no examination papers had been leaked and cautioned against any claims of advance access to question papers as fraudulent.

The directive concerning Telegram's message-editing feature was introduced to address concerns about the creation of manipulated digital evidence. The NTA noted that this feature allows administrators to modify previously posted messages and replace attached files while preserving the original posting time, which has been exploited to falsely imply that examination papers were available prior to the test.

State law enforcement agencies have also initiated independent actions against suspected fraud networks.

The Bihar Police Economic Offences Unit recently issued a public advisory cautioning students against fraudulent claims of access to examination papers via social media and messaging platforms.

The Ahmedabad City Cyber Crime Branch apprehended members of an inter-state cyber fraud network allegedly operating multiple Telegram channels associated with examination scams. Investigators are also pursuing related cases in various other states.

While acknowledging that Telegram is widely utilized for legitimate educational, professional, and personal communication, the NTA expressed regret for any inconvenience caused to genuine users. However, it emphasized that the temporary restriction is essential to protect the integrity of one of India's most significant entrance examinations.

The agency reassured students and parents that the NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination will proceed as planned on June 21 and affirmed that the examination process's security remains intact. Candidates are encouraged to concentrate on their studies, avoid unverified online information, and rely solely on official NTA channels for updates regarding the examination.

The NTA also urged citizens to report any fraudulent approaches or suspicious claims through the National Cyber Crime Helpline at 1930 or the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. It reiterated its commitment to ensuring a fair, transparent, and credible examination process for all candidates.

The agency expressed gratitude to MeitY, the Ministry of Home Affairs, I4C, the Central Bureau of Investigation, and police forces across multiple states for their collaborative efforts in safeguarding the examination system's integrity and protecting students' interests.