New Delhi, June 16: In a significant move to combat exam-related fraud, the central government has temporarily banned the messaging platform Telegram across India until June 22. This decision follows recommendations from the National Testing Agency (NTA) and aims to prevent alleged paper leaks, misinformation campaigns, and cheating networks ahead of the NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination scheduled for June 21.
According to a statement from the NTA, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) issued a directive under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000. This directive imposes restrictions on the use of Telegram in India until June 22, including on the day of the exam and immediately after.
Additionally, Telegram has been instructed to disable its message-editing feature in India until June 30, as this feature has been previously misused. The NTA stated that these measures are intended to maintain public order and disrupt organized groups that allegedly use the platform to deceive candidates retaking the exam. The agency expressed gratitude to MeitY for its timely intervention aimed at ensuring a fair and secure examination process.
The NTA highlighted the role of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), which operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs. I4C has coordinated efforts against Telegram-based fraud and misinformation targeting NEET candidates.
The NTA reported that state police forces and its own monitoring systems, including I4C, have collaborated to remove several Telegram channels, groups, and automated bots that openly promoted exam-related fraudulent services.
According to the NTA, these actions received support from MeitY and are part of a comprehensive inter-agency effort involving central and state authorities. The NTA emphasized that these new restrictions were implemented after other measures, such as removing specific channels and enforcement actions, proved inadequate given the scale of the problem. Officials described this step as a calculated and temporary response, aiming to impose minimal necessary restrictions during the sensitive exam period.
The agency alleged that multiple Telegram channels operating under names like “Leaked NEET,” “Re-NEET 2026,” and “Private Mafia” were demanding amounts ranging from thousands to several lakhs of rupees in exchange for alleged access to exam papers. The NTA reiterated that no exam paper has been leaked and warned that any claims of prior access to question papers are fraudulent.
The directive regarding Telegram’s message-editing feature was introduced to address concerns about manipulated digital evidence. According to the NTA, this feature allows administrators to edit previously posted messages and change attached files while retaining the original posting time. Officials believe this capability has been misused to falsely claim that exam papers were available before the exam.
State law enforcement agencies have also initiated independent actions against the alleged fraud networks. The Economic Offenses Unit of the Bihar Police recently issued a public advisory urging students to be cautious of false claims regarding access to exam papers via social media and messaging platforms.
The Cyber Crime Branch in Ahmedabad has arrested members of an inter-state cyber fraud network allegedly operating several Telegram channels linked to exam-related scams. Investigators are also probing related cases in various other states.
Acknowledging that Telegram is widely used for legitimate educational, professional, and personal communication, the NTA expressed regret for any inconvenience caused to genuine users. However, it emphasized that these temporary restrictions were necessary to maintain the integrity and security of one of India’s most important entrance examinations.
The agency reassured students and parents that the NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination will be conducted as scheduled on June 21 and confirmed that the examination process is fully secure. Candidates are advised to focus on their preparation, avoid unverified information circulating online, and rely solely on official NTA channels for exam-related updates.
The NTA also urged citizens to report any fraudulent attempts or suspicious claims through the National Cyber Crime Helpline number 1930 or the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. It reiterated its commitment to ensuring a fair, transparent, and reliable examination process for all candidates.
The agency thanked MeitY, the Ministry of Home Affairs, I4C, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and various state police forces for their coordinated efforts to maintain the integrity and security of the examination system and protect students’ interests.
Additionally, the NTA announced via its official X handle that over 1 million students downloaded their admit cards for NEET UG 2026 within approximately 24 hours of the facility becoming available. The tech teams are monitoring server load, and the NTA will ensure that all candidates receive their admit cards well in advance of the exam.
Leave a Comment