Telegram banned until June 22 amid measures to curb cheating in NEET re-test

The Government of India has temporarily restricted access to Telegram ahead of the NEET UG 2026 re-examination, citing its alleged misuse by organised cheating networks. According to the National Testing Agency (NTA), the platform was being used to circulate fake question papers, spread misleading claims, and run large-scale fraud operations targeting students. Authorities said the action was necessary after repeated attempts to remove harmful content from Telegram channels failed to stop the spread of exam-related misinformation and scams.

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Government Restricts Telegram Ahead of NEET UG 2026 Re-Test

The NEET UG 2026 re-test is scheduled for June 21, and officials said the timing of the restriction is intended to safeguard the examination process. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology issued two directions under the IT Act, 2000. One order restricts Telegram access in India until June 22, while the second requires the platform to disable its message-editing feature until June 30. Officials described both measures as temporary, targeted, and limited to the examination period.

The NTA stated that fraudsters were actively exploiting Telegram channels to mislead students with false promises of leaked papers. Groups with names such as “NEET Mafia” and “Paper Leaked NEET” allegedly demanded money from candidates in exchange for exam content. The agency clarified that no question paper is ever available outside the secure examination system and warned students not to trust such claims or pay any money to intermediaries.

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Fake Paper Leak Rackets and Misuse of Features

Authorities highlighted the misuse of Telegram’s message-editing feature to fabricate evidence of paper leaks. According to the NTA, administrators posted harmless messages before exams and later edited them to insert question papers, producing misleading screenshots. Officials said this tactic allowed fraudsters to falsely claim that exam papers had leaked. The government stated that disabling the editing feature is necessary to prevent such manipulation during high-stakes exams like NEET.

The NTA confirmed that cybercrime agencies and state police have taken action against multiple Telegram-based fraud networks. Authorities removed several channels and groups and arrested individuals involved in scams worth crores of rupees. Officials reassured students that the examination system remains fully secure. They urged candidates to ignore rumours, avoid fraudulent offers, and report fake websites and impersonators. The NTA stressed that students must rely only on official communications for accurate information.

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