In a move aimed at protecting the integrity of a major national examination, the government has temporarily restricted access to Telegram in India ahead of the NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination. The decision follows concerns over the platform’s alleged misuse for spreading misinformation and sharing leaked exam-related content.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) issued directions under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, to restrict access to Telegram across the country. The restriction will remain in effect until June 22, while Telegram’s message-editing feature will stay blocked until June 30.
The action comes after the NEET (UG) 2026 examination was cancelled following reports of paper leaks in multiple states. The National Testing Agency (NTA) acknowledged that some leaked questions were circulated through social media platforms.
According to NTA, the message-editing feature was allegedly being misused to “fabricate” evidence related to the examination. The agency also stated that the platform could potentially be used by “cheating rackets to defraud candidates” preparing for the NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination scheduled for June 21.
Section 69A empowers the government to block access to online platforms in matters related to sovereignty, integrity, defence, security, public order and the prevention of offences. Non-compliance with such directions can result in legal penalties, including imprisonment and fines.
Government blocks Telegram temporarily to safeguard NEET UG 2026 re-examination
While supporting the temporary restriction, NTA acknowledged the inconvenience caused to genuine users. The agency stated, “The access restriction issued by MeitY affects lakhs of citizens who use the Telegram platform for legitimate personal, educational, professional and informational purposes, and sincerely regrets the inconvenience caused to them.”
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