India blocked Telegram until June 22 to safeguard the NEET-UG 2026 re-exam scheduled for June 21.
Authorities acted to prevent misinformation, fake leak claims, and cheating rackets.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) invoked emergency provisions under Section 69A of the IT Act, 2000. Officials directed Telegram to suspend operations across India until June 22. The National Testing Agency (NTA) recommended the move after repeated misuse of the platform during exam leak controversies.
The official statement confirmed that Telegram must also disable its message-editing feature until June 30. Authorities identified this feature as a tool used to fabricate false “paper leak” evidence after exams. By restricting access and disabling editing, officials aim to protect the credibility of the NEET re-exam process.
The NEET-UG 2026 re-exam will take place on June 21 from 2 PM to 5:15 PM across 551 cities. Over 22 lakh candidates will appear for the test. The NTA emphasised that the temporary Telegram ban strengthens the security framework and ensures fairness.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan directed agencies to address every vulnerability. Surveillance teams continue monitoring online platforms to flag suspicious activity. The government stressed that the ban is temporary and limited, ending on June 22.
For millions of students, the NEET re-exam represents not only an academic challenge but also a test of trust in India’s examination system. Authorities believe the Telegram ban will reinforce confidence and prevent disruption.
