India Bans Telegram Ahead of NEET Exam to Curb Cheating

Tue Jun 16 2026 12:08:02 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

India temporarily blocks Telegram, citing risk of exam fraud, just days before the re‑held NEET‑UG medical entrance test.

India has temporarily restricted access to the Telegram app because authorities fear it may be used to cheat on India’s high‑stakes medical entrance exam, NEET‑UG. The ban, effective until after the exam retest on 21 June, comes after the 3 May test was scrapped amid allegations of a paper leak. The National Testing Agency welcomed the restriction, while rights groups argue it is a band‑aid solution that will inconvenience legitimate users. The move highlights growing concerns over academic integrity in India’s digital era.

India Bans Telegram Ahead of NEET Exam to Curb Cheating

India has temporarily blocked the Telegram app over concerns that it may be used for cheating, days before a crucial medical entrance exam is set to be re‑held.

Background: The NEET‑UG Controversy

Millions of students will retake the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test – Undergraduate (NEET‑UG) on 21 June after the exam held in May was cancelled over allegations of a paper leak. Nearly 2.28 million candidates sat the test on 3 May at more than 5,000 centres across India, but within days it was scrapped and more than a dozen arrests were made as the Central Bureau of Investigation began probing the leak.

Government Response

The National Testing Agency welcomed the move, stating that it was taken in response to the organised use of the platform by cheating rackets to defraud candidates. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology directed Telegram to restrict access in India until 22 June, the day after the retest. The ministry also asked the app to disable the message‑editing feature until 30 June, citing its use in fabricating evidence of paper leaks. The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre has removed a “substantial number” of Telegram channels and bots that promoted fraudulent access to the exam paper.

Criticism and Concerns

Internet users and rights activists have slammed the ban as a band‑aid solution that will punish ordinary users and fails to tackle the systemic sources of exam leaks. The Internet Freedom Foundation argued that blocking Telegram is reactive, ineffective and unconstitutional, especially as thousands of students rely on the platform for study groups and doubt‑clearing during the final days of NEET preparation. The foundation also warned that the ban will not stop leaks originating from insiders or the printing and logistics chain.

Telegram has not issued a statement yet; the BBC has contacted the platform for a response. The lack of transparency and the timing of the ban raise questions about the balance between security and freedom in India’s digital environment.