India has temporarily blocked access to the Telegram messaging app amid concerns it was being used by cheating rackets ahead of a crucial medical entrance exam. The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test – Undergraduate (NEET-UG), taken by millions of students seeking admission to medical colleges, will be reheld on June 21 after the May exam was scrapped over allegations of a paper leak.
The National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts the exam, said the move was necessary to curb “organised use of the platform by cheating rackets to defraud candidates.” The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology directed Telegram to restrict access until June 22 and disable its message-editing feature until June 30, citing evidence that it had been used to fabricate leaks.
The ban comes after weeks of controversy. Nearly 2.3 million students sat for the May exam at more than 5,000 centers nationwide, but allegations of leaks and irregularities led to protests and a federal investigation. The Central Bureau of Investigation has made more than a dozen arrests. Similar scandals rocked NEET in 2024, when claims of paper leaks and irregular grace marks sparked outrage.
Reactions have been swift. The NTA acknowledged the inconvenience to legitimate users but said the crackdown was essential. “There is no such paper available outside the secured examination chain,” the agency stressed, warning families against paying fraudsters.
Digital rights groups criticized the move. The Internet Freedom Foundation said the ban “lacks transparency and is unconstitutional,” adding, “This blocking comes in the final days of NEET preparation, when thousands of students depend on Telegram for study groups, doubt-clearing, and shared resources.”
Educational bodies expressed concern about the impact on students. A teachers’ association in Delhi said, “Blocking Telegram punishes honest candidates who rely on it for learning materials. The real problem lies in systemic leaks within the exam chain.”
Legal experts also weighed in. A constitutional lawyer in Mumbai argued, “Such blanket bans are disproportionate. The government should target the culprits, not restrict millions of users.”
On social media, reactions were divided. One student wrote, “We are already stressed about the retest. Now they’ve taken away our study groups.” Another user countered, “If Telegram is being misused, then banning it before the exam is the right step.”
Authorities insist the measure is temporary and aimed at restoring confidence in the exam system. But the controversy underscores India’s recurring struggle with exam integrity, where leaks and fraud have repeatedly undermined trust in high-stakes tests.
