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The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), acting on recommendations from the National Testing Agency (NTA), has implemented temporary restrictions on Telegram across India as part of a broader effort to combat misinformation, fake paper leaks, and examination-related fraud ahead of the NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination scheduled for 21st June 2026.
According to the government, the measures are temporary and designed to protect the integrity of the examination process while preventing the spread of fraudulent content claiming to offer access to examination papers.
Temporary Restrictions Announced
As part of the regulatory action, access to Telegram has been restricted nationwide under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act. The restriction will remain in place until 22nd June 2026, covering the examination period and its immediate aftermath. In addition to the platform restriction, authorities have directed Telegram to temporarily disable its message-editing functionality for existing messages originating from India until 30th June 2026.
Officials stated that the move is intended to prevent fraudsters from modifying older posts after the examination to falsely claim they had access to question papers beforehand. By disabling message editing, authorities aim to eliminate the possibility of retroactively inserting examination content while retaining original timestamps as fabricated proof.
Crackdown on Examination Scams
The decision follows extensive coordination between the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), the National Testing Agency (NTA), and law enforcement agencies across multiple states, including Bihar, Gujarat, and Rajasthan.
Authorities have been monitoring several online groups and channels allegedly involved in spreading fake examination papers and collecting money from students under false promises of providing advance access to NEET question papers.
In one recent operation, the Ahmedabad City Cyber Crime Branch dismantled a fraud network operating through eight Telegram channels that reportedly collected approximately ₹1.5 crore from candidates and their families.
NTA Clarifies No Paper Leak
The National Testing Agency has reiterated that no examination papers have been leaked outside the official secure distribution chain and has described all online offers claiming access to NEET question papers as fraudulent.
The agency acknowledged that the temporary restrictions may cause inconvenience to legitimate Telegram users but stated that the measures are necessary to ensure a fair and transparent examination process.
Students and candidates have been advised to rely exclusively on official NTA communication channels for examination-related updates, notifications, and announcements.
Validity of Restrictions
- Telegram access restriction: Until 22nd June 2026
- Message editing disabled for existing Indian messages: Until 30th June 2026
- Reason: Prevent fake paper leaks, misinformation, and examination-related fraud linked to NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination
- Exam date: 21st June 2026
The government stated that normal platform functionality is expected to resume after the specified period, subject to ongoing assessments by the concerned authorities.
