India blocks Telegram amid concerns over cheating in upcoming medical entrance exam


Millions of students are scheduled to retake the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test – Undergraduate (NEET‑UG) on 21 June. In the weeks before the re‑held exam, the Indian government temporarily blocked the popular messaging app Telegram in a bid to prevent cheating, following allegations that the original test held on 3 May was leaked.


The National Testing Agency (NTA), which administers the exam, welcomed the ban. It said the order was issued after when “organised use of the platform by cheating rackets” was reported to threaten the integrity of the exam. NTA further noted that the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology had instructed Telegram to restrict access to the app in India until 22 June, the day after the re‑test, and to disable the message‑editing feature until 30 June to prevent the fabrication of evidence of leaks.


The decision was met with criticism from internet users and rights advocates. The Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) – an Indian digital‑rights organisation – described the ban as a “band‑aid solution” that punishes ordinary users who rely on Telegram for study groups, doubt‑clearing, and shared educational resources. IFF added that disabling the app would not stop leaks originating within the education system or the printing and logistics chain.


Telegram has not yet issued a statement on the order. The BBC has contacted the platform for a response. Meanwhile, the NTA said it had taken down a substantial number of Telegram channels, groups and bots that advertised fraudulent or misleading services, with claims that operators demanded large sums from candidates in exchange for alleged access to the re‑examination paper. “There is no paper available outside the secured examination chain,” the NTA added.


Nearly 2.28 million candidates sat the original exam at more than 5,000 centres across India. Within days, the exam was scrapped after the paper‑leak allegations sparked widespread protests. More than a dozen arrests have been made so far, and the Central Bureau of Investigation is scrutinising the case. The controversy also sparked calls for the resignation of the federal education minister after separate allegations related to marking issues in a crucial school‑leaving exam emerged.


The restriction and the related measures have highlighted tensions between ensuring exam integrity and protecting digital freedoms. The temporary block is expected to lift after the retest, but the broader debate on how best to safeguard high‑stakes assessments continues.