India Restricts Telegram Amid NEET-UG Fraud Crackdown Before Re-Examination

India has temporarily blocked the Telegram platform following requests from the National Testing Agency (NTA) to prevent widespread cheating and fraud ahead of the NEET-UG re-examination on June 21, 2026. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has ordered the restriction until June 22, with an additional directive to disable message-editing features until June 30 to prevent the fabrication of evidence regarding alleged paper leaks.

The move follows recent arrests by Ahmedabad Police involving two separate scam networks. In one case, operators allegedly advertised fake NEET question papers on Telegram channels to defraud students, while a second case involved a Bihar resident who allegedly stole exam fee refunds by hacking student accounts on the NTA portal. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) continues to probe the broader irregularities surrounding the original May 3 examination, which saw over 2.2 million candidates appear before it was cancelled.

While the NTA has welcomed the restriction as a vital measure for public order and exam integrity, digital rights organizations like the Internet Freedom Foundation have criticized the ban as a reactive 'band-aid' solution. Activists argue that blocking the app inconveniences legitimate users and does not address the underlying systemic issues regarding logistics and security within the examination system.