Indian authorities have ordered a temporary nationwide restriction on Telegram over concerns that fraudsters are using the messaging platform to target candidates ahead of a re-test of the country’s largest medical entrance examination.
The directive was issued by India’s National Testing Agency (NTA), which administers the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET-UG), one of the country’s most competitive examinations.
According to the agency, the restriction is aimed at preventing cheating syndicates from using Telegram to sell fake examination papers and spread misinformation before the June 21 re-test.
The order includes a temporary suspension of Telegram services until June 22, one day after the examination, and a request for the platform to disable its message-editing feature until June 30.
The NTA argued that the editing feature has been used in the past to fabricate evidence of examination paper leaks after tests have already been conducted.
“Both measures have been taken in the interest of public order, in response to the organized use of the platform by cheating rackets to defraud candidates appearing for the NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination,” the agency said.
The directive was issued under Section 69A of India’s Information Technology Act, which provides the legal framework for blocking online services and content.
The move has drawn criticism from digital rights advocates.
The Internet Freedom Foundation described the decision as a disproportionate response to examination fraud and questioned whether the law permits authorities to block an entire platform rather than targeting specific content.
“Shutting down Telegram is a band-aid solution and a disproportionate answer to exam fraud,” the organisation said in a statement.
The re-test follows a major paper leak scandal that affected the NEET examination last month, prompting a federal investigation and renewed scrutiny of India’s examination system.
Authorities have since introduced additional measures aimed at strengthening examination security.
India is Telegram’s largest market by downloads, making the proposed restriction one of the most significant actions taken against the platform globally.
However, Telegram remained accessible across India at the time of reporting, and its message-editing feature appeared to be functioning normally.
Neither Telegram nor India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology immediately responded to requests for comment.
