According to the National Testing Agency (NTA), Telegram will remain inaccessible until June 22, while the platform’s message editing feature will be disabled until June 30. The decision was announced in a statement shared by the agency on Tuesday.
The NTA stated that the move was prompted by the “organized use” of Telegram by cheating networks allegedly involved in defrauding candidates appearing for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate), commonly known as NEET-UG, which is scheduled to be conducted on June 21.
The examination is one of India’s most significant entrance tests for admission to medical colleges. The original NEET-UG examination, held on May 3, was cancelled on May 12 after allegations emerged regarding a question paper leak and procedural irregularities. The controversy affected approximately 2.2 million students and sparked nationwide outrage.
Government investigations conducted over recent weeks reportedly uncovered several Telegram channels claiming to possess leaked examination papers. These channels allegedly solicited payments ranging from a few thousand rupees to several lakh rupees from candidates and their families in exchange for access to the purported papers.
However, the NTA firmly rejected such claims, stating that no examination paper is available outside the secured examination system. The agency emphasized that any individual or group claiming access to confidential question papers is engaging in fraudulent activity.
Telegram, owned by Russian-born technology billionaire Pavel Durov, claims to have more than one billion monthly active users worldwide. The company had not publicly commented on the restriction at the time of the announcement.
The examination controversy has also intensified political pressure on the government. Last month, Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition, demanded the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET-UG paper leak issue.
Public anger has extended beyond traditional political circles. The Cockroach Janta Party, a social media-driven mock political organization, has organized protests across India seeking accountability and transparency in connection with the examination leak allegations.
Commenting on the broader impact of the controversy, Ashok Malik, a partner at public policy think tank The Asia Group, previously described the examination discrepancies as “fairly disastrous.” He said the issue represents one of the most significant challenges faced by the government during the past 12 years.
The temporary restriction on Telegram marks one of the most aggressive measures taken by authorities to safeguard the integrity of the upcoming re-examination. As millions of students prepare to retake the test, the government faces mounting pressure to restore confidence in the country’s examination system and ensure that the June 21 examination proceeds without further controversy.
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