India Temporarily Blocks Telegram Over NEET Exam Fraud Fears

India has ordered a temporary nationwide restriction on Telegram, citing concerns that fraudsters are using the messaging platform to target students ahead of a major medical entrance exam re-test.

The decision was announced Tuesday by the National Testing Agency (NTA), the government body responsible for conducting the National Eligibility Entrance Test (Undergraduate), commonly known as NEET (UG). The exam is one of India’s largest and most competitive entrance tests, attracting millions of aspiring medical students every year.

According to the agency, the temporary ban is intended to curb the spread of fake exam papers, scams, and misinformation before the NEET re-examination scheduled for June 21. Under the order, Telegram will remain blocked across India until June 22, one day after the test takes place.

Government Targets Exam Scam Networks

The NTA said organized cheating groups have been using Telegram channels to deceive students by selling fraudulent exam materials and spreading false claims about leaked question papers.

In addition to the temporary suspension, authorities have asked Telegram to disable its message-editing feature until June 30. Officials argue that scammers have exploited the feature to alter messages after exams, creating misleading evidence that exam papers were leaked beforehand.

The order was issued under Section 69A of India’s Information Technology Act, the legal framework commonly used by the government to block online content and digital services.

The agency stated that both measures were implemented in the interest of public order and student protection as authorities work to prevent cheating and fraud during the re-examination process.

Telegram CEO Pushes Back

Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov criticized the decision shortly after it was announced.

In a post on X, Durov argued that restricting access to Telegram would affect more than 150 million users in India while doing little to stop those responsible for distributing leaked materials.

He also questioned the effectiveness of the move, suggesting that individuals involved in exam fraud could simply migrate to other messaging platforms.

In a follow-up statement posted on Telegram, Durov said the company had already removed hundreds of channels linked to leaked exam content and scam operations in India over recent weeks. He added that Telegram had enhanced the visibility of its “edited” label to make message modifications easier to identify and reduce misuse.

Digital Rights Groups Raise Concerns

The decision quickly sparked criticism from digital rights advocates.

The Internet Freedom Foundation described the nationwide restriction as a disproportionate response to exam-related misconduct. The organization also questioned whether Section 69A permits the government to block an entire platform instead of targeting specific content or channels.

According to the group, shutting down a widely used communication platform is unlikely to solve the underlying problem of examination fraud.

Officials Defend the Restriction

NTA Director General Abhishek Singh defended the move, noting that some scam channels operate through VPN services or from locations outside India.

However, Singh argued that restricting access would still help protect students by reducing the number of potential victims who could be targeted by fraudsters.

The controversy comes after NEET (UG) was hit by a major paper leak scandal last month, triggering a federal investigation and renewed scrutiny of India’s examination system.

Telegram’s Largest Market

India remains Telegram’s biggest market globally, according to analytics firm Sensor Tower. The platform is estimated to have around 354 million monthly active users in the country and nearly 600 million downloads since launch.

Despite the government order, some users reported continued access to Telegram at the time of publication, while the app’s message-editing feature appeared to remain operational. Meanwhile, Google reportedly removed Telegram from its Play Store in India following the announcement.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology had not issued a public response at the time of reporting.

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