Acting on recommendations from the National Testing Agency (NTA), the Central Government has imposed temporary restrictions on Telegram in India ahead of the NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination, citing concerns over exam-related fraud and the spread of misinformation.
The action follows reports that organised cheating syndicates were using the messaging platform to mislead students with fake claims of leaked question papers and other fraudulent offers linked to the medical entrance test.
In a statement released on June 16, the NTA said the restrictions are temporary and aimed solely at protecting the integrity of the NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination scheduled for June 21.
Access curbs and feature suspension
Under the government’s directions, Telegram access in India will remain restricted until June 22, covering the examination period and the days immediately following it.
In addition, Telegram has been instructed to disable its message-editing feature in India until June 30. Authorities believe the feature has been exploited to manipulate old posts and create false narratives suggesting that examination papers were leaked before the test.
Defending the move, the NTA said, “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 said the restrictions were necessary to ensure the examination is conducted fairly and securely.
Coordinated action against scam networks
The NTA said the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), under the Ministry of Home Affairs, has been leading efforts to identify and dismantle Telegram-based fraud networks. The operation has involved coordination with state police agencies, including units in Bihar, Gujarat and Rajasthan.
According to the agency, several Telegram groups, channels and bots allegedly promoting examination scams have already been removed through joint action by I4C and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
“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,” the NTA said.
Officials added that broader restrictions were considered only after targeted action against individual channels failed to contain the problem.
Students cautioned against fake leak claims
The NTA warned that several Telegram channels have been advertising purported access to NEET question papers in exchange for money. Authorities said such groups have been demanding payments ranging from a few thousand rupees to several lakh rupees from candidates and their families.
Among the names allegedly used by these channels were “PAPER LEAKED NEET”, “Re-NEET 2026”, “Private Mafia” and “REE NEET MAFIAA”.
Rejecting such claims, the NTA reiterated that examination papers remain within a secure system until the test is conducted.
“The promise of any such material is, in every instance, a fraud,” the agency said, urging students and parents to avoid falling victim to such scams.
The Bihar Police Economic Offences Unit had earlier issued a similar advisory warning aspirants against fraudulent claims of paper leaks.
Why Telegram’s editing feature is under scrutiny
Investigators have identified Telegram’s message-editing feature as a major concern. The feature allows administrators to modify messages and attached files while retaining the original posting time.
Authorities allege that this capability has been misused in recent examinations, with administrators editing previously posted messages after the exam and replacing attachments with actual question papers. This, they claim, creates a misleading impression that the papers had been shared before the examination.
The NTA said suspending the feature temporarily would help prevent the fabrication and circulation of false “paper leak” evidence during the sensitive post-exam period.
With the NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination just days away, authorities maintain that the restrictions are limited, temporary and intended exclusively to safeguard the examination process and protect candidates from fraud.
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