India blocks Telegram through June 22 ahead of NEET re-exam

India has blocked access to the messaging app Telegram nationwide until June 22. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology issued the order under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, which allows the government to restrict online services for reasons including national sovereignty and public order. The ministry also directed Telegram to disable message editing in India until June 30.

The action follows findings by investigators that organised cheating rackets used Telegram to defraud candidates ahead of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) re-examination scheduled for June 21. The NTA framed the restrictions as measures to protect the integrity of the exam and to prevent further fraud.

NEET determines admission to undergraduate medical and dental courses in India. About 2.2 million candidates sat the original exam on May 3. The National Testing Agency cancelled that round on May 12 after alleging a paper leak and set a fresh date of June 21 for the re-examination.

The NTA stated in a release: “NTA acknowledges that the access restriction issued by MeitY affects lakhs of citizens who use the Telegram platform for legitimate personal, educational, professional, and informational purposes, and sincerely regrets the inconvenience caused to them. The access restriction is, by its express terms, confined to the period ending 22 June 2026 – i.e., the day after the examination.”

Officials have taken additional security steps for the retest. Sealed question papers will be transported to exam centres by the Indian Air Force. Authorities described the measures as temporary and tied to the exam schedule.

The ban will affect Telegram groups and channels used by students for study materials, updates and peer discussion, along with other educational and professional communications that rely on the platform.

Authorities will monitor the situation and assess whether further steps are needed after the June 21 examination concludes.