The Indian government has imposed temporary restrictions on the messaging platform Telegram ahead of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG) 2026 re-examination, with the National Testing Agency (NTA) describing the move as a necessary step to combat organised cheating rackets, fake paper-leak claims and online fraud targeting students.
The ministry of electronics and information technology (MeitY), acting on recommendations from the NTA and the department of higher education, has restricted access to Telegram in India until 22 June 2026, covering the NEET-UG re-examination scheduled for 21 June 2026 and its immediate aftermath.
In a separate direction, Telegram has also been instructed to disable its message-editing feature in India until 30 June 2026.
In
a statement posted on X, the NTA said both measures had been taken in the interest of public order and to prevent criminal networks from exploiting the platform to deceive students appearing for one of the country's most important entrance examinations.
"The directions are calibrated and bounded in time," the agency said, adding that the restrictions are intended to ensure a safe and secure examination process.
The action marks one of the most significant government interventions involving a major messaging platform and is believed to be the first nationwide temporary restriction imposed on Telegram in India.
Why Telegram Came under Scrutiny
The NTA said that, in recent weeks, several Telegram channels had openly advertised purported access to NEET question papers and demanded payments ranging from a few thousand rupees to several lakh rupees from candidates and their families.
Channels allegedly operated under names such as 'PAPER LEAKED NEET', 'Re-NEET 2026', 'Private Mafia' and 'REE NEET MAFIAA'.
The agency reiterated that no examination paper exists outside the secured examination chain and warned that any claims offering advance access to question papers are fraudulent.
"NTA has placed on record, and reiterates, that there is no such paper available outside the secured examination chain. The promise of any such material is, in every instance, a fraud," the statement said.
Message Editing Feature Allegedly Misused
A major concern highlighted by the NTA relates to Telegram's message-editing functionality.
According to the agency, channel administrators can edit previously posted messages, including replacing attached PDF files, while retaining the original timestamp.
Officials alleged that this capability had been misused in several examinations to create fabricated evidence of paper leaks.
Under the alleged modus operandi, administrators would post an innocuous message before an examination and later edit the post after the examination concluded, inserting the actual question paper. Screenshots of the edited posts were then circulated online as purported proof that the paper had been available before the examination.
The temporary suspension of the editing feature is intended to prevent the creation of such after-the-event 'paper leak' artefacts during the crucial post-examination period.
I4C-led Crackdown
The NTA credited the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), operating under the Union ministry of home affairs (MHA), for coordinating action against Telegram-based fraud and misinformation campaigns.
According to the agency, I4C has been continuously monitoring public channels and online platforms while coordinating with state police forces and other agencies.
Acting on intelligence received from the NTA and law-enforcement authorities in Bihar, Gujarat, Rajasthan and other states, several Telegram channels, groups and bots allegedly involved in spreading fraudulent claims have already been taken down.
The NTA described I4C's intelligence-sharing and coordinated enforcement efforts as the "operational backbone" of the response to examination-related cyber fraud.
State Agencies Launch Enforcement Action
The agency said independent action by state law-enforcement authorities had reinforced concerns about the scale of the fraud ecosystem.
The Bihar police economic offences unit issued a public advisory on 9 June 2026 warning candidates against fraudulent claims regarding access to NEET examination papers circulated through Telegram and other online platforms.
Meanwhile, according to reports cited by the NTA, the Ahmedabad city cybercrime branch arrested members of an inter-state cyber fraud gang allegedly operating eight Telegram channels involved in examination-related scams.
Investigators reportedly found transactions worth around ₹1.5 crore routed through fraudulent bank accounts and said nearly 1,000 mobile numbers had been contacted within a single month as part of the operation.
Investigations are continuing in several states.
Platform-level Action a 'Last Resort'
NTA said the government resorted to platform-level restrictions only after intermediate measures, including channel-by-channel takedowns coordinated by I4C, failed to adequately address the problem.
According to the agency, the temporary restriction was designed to be narrow in scope and limited to the examination period.
"The directions are a measure of last resort," NTA said, adding that authorities sought to address public-order concerns with the minimum restrictions necessary.
The agency acknowledged that the temporary block affects millions of legitimate Telegram users who rely on the platform for educational, professional, informational and personal communication.
It expressed regret for the inconvenience caused but emphasised that the access restriction would remain in force only until 22 June 2026, while the suspension of the editing feature would continue until 30 June 2026.
NTA clarified that the editing restriction would not affect users' ability to send or receive new messages.
NEET Re-examination To Proceed as Scheduled
The agency stressed that the security of the examination remains intact and that the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination will be conducted as scheduled on 21 June 2026.
NTA urged candidates and parents not to trust claims circulating on social media or messaging platforms regarding leaked papers or guaranteed access to examination material.
Students have been advised to rely only on information published through official NTA channels and the agency's website for examination-related updates.
The agency also urged anyone encountering fraudulent solicitations online, over the phone or in person to report them through the national cyber crime helpline (1930) or the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
