India Blocks Telegram Ahead of NEET

The Indian government has temporarily blocked access to the Telegram messaging application to prevent organized cheating ahead of Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) re-examination scheduled for 21 June. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology issued the directive following allegations that criminal syndicates utilized the platform to distribute fraudulent exam materials and solicit payments from candidates.

Testing Agency (NTA) confirmed that the restriction will remain in effect until 22 June, with an additional mandate requiring the platform to disable its message-editing feature until 30 June. This measure follows the cancellation of the May examination, which involved 2.28 million candidates, after reports of systemic paper leaks prompted nationwide protests and a Central Bureau of Investigation probe.

The mechanism of the ban targets the transmission of illicit data through encrypted channels, aiming to secure the integrity of the upcoming test. However, the policy has drawn criticism from digital rights organizations, which argue that the block is a reactive measure that fails to address internal security vulnerabilities within the printing and logistics chain. While the NTA maintains that the action is necessary to protect the examination process, the effectiveness of the curb remains subject to enforcement challenges as the retest date approaches.