Centre imposes temporary Telegram restrictions ahead of NEET re-exam to curb fraud and misinformation

New Delhi, June 2026 : In a significant step aimed at safeguarding the integrity of one of India’s most important entrance examinations, the Central government has imposed temporary restrictions on the messaging platform Telegram across the country until June 22, following recommendations from the National Testing Agency (NTA).

The move comes ahead of the NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination scheduled for June 21 and is intended to curb alleged examination-related fraud, misinformation campaigns and cheating networks that authorities say have increasingly relied on digital platforms.

According to an official statement issued by the NTA, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has invoked provisions under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, to temporarily restrict access to Telegram in India. The restrictions will remain in force through the examination period and its immediate aftermath.

In addition to the temporary access restrictions, Telegram has reportedly been directed to disable its message-editing feature in India until June 30. Authorities claim that the feature has previously been misused to create fabricated evidence of question paper leaks by editing old messages and inserting examination materials after the exam had already concluded, while retaining the original timestamp.

The NTA stated that these measures were adopted in the interest of public order and to counter organised cheating syndicates that allegedly used the platform to exploit students and spread misinformation. The agency thanked MeitY for what it termed a timely intervention to ensure a fair and secure examination process.

The agency also highlighted the role of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, which has been coordinating efforts against Telegram-based fraud targeting NEET candidates. Operating under the Ministry of Home Affairs, the I4C has reportedly worked alongside state police forces and other agencies to monitor and dismantle online fraud networks.

According to the NTA, authorities have already facilitated the removal of numerous Telegram channels, groups and automated bots that openly advertised fraudulent examination-related services. These actions formed part of a wider inter-agency operation involving central agencies and state law enforcement.

Officials said earlier efforts, including channel-specific takedowns and enforcement actions, proved insufficient to address the scale of the problem. As a result, the temporary restrictions were introduced as a calibrated response designed to impose the minimum necessary limitations during a sensitive examination period.

The NTA alleged that several Telegram channels operating under names such as “Paper Leaked NEET,” “Re-NEET 2026,” and “Private Mafia” had been demanding payments ranging from a few thousand rupees to several lakh rupees in exchange for purported access to examination papers.

However, the agency firmly reiterated that no NEET question paper had been leaked and warned students that any claims offering advance access to exam materials were fraudulent.

Authorities have expressed particular concern about Telegram’s message-editing capability, which allows administrators to modify existing posts and replace attached files while retaining the original posting time. Investigators believe this feature has been exploited to falsely suggest that examination papers were circulated before the test, thereby fuelling rumours and panic among candidates.

State agencies have also launched separate crackdowns against suspected fraud networks. The Bihar Police Economic Offences Unit recently issued a public advisory warning students against fake claims related to exam papers circulating on social media and messaging applications.

Meanwhile, the Ahmedabad City Cyber Crime Branch has arrested members of an alleged inter-state cyber fraud network accused of operating multiple Telegram channels linked to examination scams. Investigations are ongoing in several other states.

Acknowledging that Telegram is widely used for legitimate educational, professional and personal communication, the NTA expressed regret over the inconvenience caused to genuine users. Nevertheless, it maintained that the temporary restrictions were necessary to preserve the credibility and fairness of the examination process.

The agency reassured students and parents that the NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination will proceed as scheduled on June 21 and emphasised that exam security remains intact. Candidates have been advised to avoid unverified information circulating online and rely only on official NTA channels for updates.

The NTA also urged citizens to report suspicious activities or fraudulent approaches through the National Cyber Crime Helpline at 1930 or the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.

The agency thanked MeitY, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the I4C, the Central Bureau of Investigation and police forces across multiple states for their coordinated efforts in protecting the integrity of the examination system and safeguarding the interests of millions of students.

Team Maverick.