India has ordered a temporary nationwide block on Telegram until June 22 amid concerns that fraudsters are using the messaging platform to target students ahead of the NEET (UG) 2026 re-test scheduled for June 21.
The decision was announced by the National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts the country's largest medical entrance examination. According to the agency, Telegram has been used by cheating networks to sell fake question papers and spread misinformation related to the exam.
As part of the restrictions, the government has also asked Telegram to disable its message-editing feature until June 30, claiming it has been misused to create false evidence of exam paper leaks after examinations.
The order was issued under Section 69A of India's Information Technology Act, which allows authorities to block online services in the interest of public order.
Digital rights groups, including the Internet Freedom Foundation, criticized the move, calling it a disproportionate response to exam fraud and questioning the legality of blocking an entire platform.
The NEET re-test follows a major paper leak controversy that triggered a federal investigation and raised concerns about exam security across the country.
