According to an official notice issued by the NTA, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has invoked Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, directing a temporary suspension of access to Telegram across India until June 22, 2026. The restriction covers the period of the NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination and the immediate aftermath of the examination.
The directive also requires Telegram to disable its message-editing feature for previously posted messages in India until June 30, 2026. Authorities stated that the measure specifically targets a feature that has allegedly been used to fabricate false evidence of paper leaks related to national examinations.
Under the instructions issued following NTA recommendations, access to the Telegram platform in India has been restricted for a fixed and limited period. Telegram has additionally been directed to suspend the editing option for previously posted messages until June 30, 2026.
The NTA explained that the message-editing feature, in its current form, allows channel administrators to alter the content of previously posted messages, including replacing attached files such as PDF documents, while retaining the original timestamp. In several recent examination-related incidents, this capability was allegedly exploited to create false proof of paper leaks after examinations had already concluded. According to the agency, administrators would modify an older generic message after the examination by inserting the actual question paper and subsequently circulate screenshots as purported evidence that the paper had leaked before the examination. MeitY's directive is intended to eliminate this method of manipulation during the post-examination period, when similar claims have previously surfaced.
The NTA stated that during recent weeks, several publicly accessible channels on the platform openly reflected their intentions through names such as "PAPER LEAKED NEET", "Re-NEET 2026", "Private Mafia", and "REE NEET MAFIAA". These channels allegedly demanded payments ranging from a few thousand rupees to several lakh rupees from candidates and their families in exchange for supposed access to the re-examination question paper.
The agency reiterated that no examination paper exists outside the secure examination process and emphasized that any promise of access to such material is fraudulent in every instance. The NTA warned that strict action would be taken against those involved in such activities.
Meanwhile, the NTA has launched a dedicated reporting platform to assist candidates, parents, coaching institutions, and members of the public in reporting suspicious claims, unauthorized content, or fraudulent activities linked to the NEET re-examination scheduled for June 21. Reports may include claims involving payment in exchange for examination papers, alleged paper leaks, or guaranteed results.
Users can submit details of the incident, information about the platform or channel where the content was observed, the date and time of the occurrence, and supporting evidence such as screenshots, documents, or other relevant material. Similar information may also be reported through the NTA's official channels. Misleading information relating to the Government of India may additionally be reported to the Press Information Bureau's fact-checking mechanism through its designated communication channels.
The measures have been introduced in response to what authorities describe as the organized use of the platform by fraudulent networks seeking to deceive candidates appearing in the NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination on June 21, 2026. The NTA has also released the admit cards for the examination. Candidates can download their hall tickets using their application number and date of birth.
The temporary restriction on Telegram and the suspension of its message-editing feature represent one of the most significant digital interventions undertaken to protect the integrity of a national examination. The action underscores the authorities' determination to curb misinformation, prevent fraudulent activities, and ensure a fair and secure examination process for all candidates.
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