Telegram Temporarily Banned in India Until June 22 Ahead of NEET UG 2026 Re-Exam

Telegram has been temporarily restricted in India, and the timing is no coincidence. The Central government has blocked access to the messaging app until June 22, one day after the NEET UG 2026 re-examination scheduled for June 21.

The move comes on the recommendation of the National Testing Agency and is aimed at disrupting organised cheating networks that have been using Telegram to target students with fake paper leak claims. The restriction was first reported by Deccan Herald.

Why the Government Acted

The original NEET UG 2026 exam, held on May 3, was cancelled following allegations of a question paper leak. The re-examination is now set for June 21, and authorities weren't taking any chances this time around.

According to the NTA, MeitY has issued the restriction under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000. The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, operating under the Ministry of Home Affairs, has been credited with leading the operational response against Telegram-based fraud ahead of the exam.

What the Ban Covers

There are actually two separate directives here. The first restricts access to Telegram across India until June 22, covering the exam day and the day immediately after.

The second requires Telegram to disable its message-editing feature in India until June 30. As reported by OneIndia, authorities say this feature has been repeatedly exploited to fabricate misleading evidence of paper leaks after exams have already concluded, creating panic among students and parents even when no actual leak has taken place.

Why Telegram Specifically

Telegram has been a recurring problem for Indian exam authorities for a while now. Its large group sizes, file-sharing capabilities, and lack of a physical presence in India make it particularly difficult to regulate and hold accountable. Before almost every major exam cycle, Telegram channels pop up claiming to have leaked question papers, often as a front to scam students desperate for an edge.

The NTA has previously flagged over a hundred such channels operating around exam seasons, using fake paper leak claims to extract money from students before disappearing.

What Students Should Know

The NTA has reassured students that the NEET UG 2026 re-examination will go ahead as planned on June 21. It also urged students to rely only on official NTA channels for any exam-related updates and to ignore claims circulating elsewhere.

Anyone who comes across suspicious activity or fraudulent approaches can report it through the National Cyber Crime Helpline at 1930 or the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.

The ban is temporary and access to Telegram is expected to be restored on June 22.