India has ordered a temporary restriction on Telegram until June 22, citing concerns that exam fraud networks were using the messaging app ahead of the NEET (UG) re-test.
The decision was announced by the National Testing Agency, which oversees the National Eligibility Entrance Test for undergraduate medical admissions, one of the country's largest competitive exams. Officials said the measure is intended to curb the circulation of fake question papers and misleading claims before the June 21 re-examination.
The agency also asked for Telegram's message-editing function to be disabled until June 30, saying the tool had been used to create false proof of paper leaks after exams were completed.
According to the order, the action was taken under Section 69A of India's Information Technology Act, the legal framework used to restrict online services in specific cases. Digital rights advocates, including the Internet Freedom Foundation, have questioned whether a full-platform restriction is the right response, arguing that targeted enforcement may be more effective.
The re-test follows scrutiny over a previous NEET paper leak, which pushed exam security into the spotlight and accelerated calls for stronger digital safeguards. India is Telegram's largest market by downloads, making the temporary measure especially significant for the platform's reach in the country.
This episode highlights how education systems and digital platforms are increasingly linked, and it may shape future approaches to secure, technology-driven exam administration.