17.06.2026
2 min
6
Indian authorities have fully restricted access to Telegram for the first time in the country’s history. The move was prompted by allegations that organized groups were using the messaging platform to facilitate fraud related to one of India’s most important entrance examinations.
The ban will remain in effect until June 22. The decision was made after India’s National Testing Agency (NTA) alleged that Telegram was being used to facilitate cheating related to the NEET 2026 medical entrance retest, scheduled for June 21. According to the agency, scammers were using specific channels and groups to offer what they claimed was access to exam materials.
The move comes amid a major controversy surrounding the NEET examination. Last month, the government was forced to cancel exam results following allegations that test questions had been leaked. The results of approximately 2.3 million candidates came under scrutiny, sparking protests across several parts of the country.
Indian authorities said Telegram had been used to distribute offers for the sale of exam materials. Acting under the country’s information technology laws, the government ordered the platform to be blocked nationwide and instructed Apple and Google to remove the app from their respective stores.
Telegram founder Pavel Durov strongly criticized the decision. He argued that the restrictions affected more than 150 million ordinary users in India, while those responsible for the leaks simply moved to other platforms.
“And the ban stopped nothing. The leaks simply moved to other apps,” Durov said.
The decision has also drawn criticism from digital rights advocates. Representatives of the Internet Freedom Foundation described the ban as a disproportionate measure that restricts freedom of expression without addressing the root causes of exam paper leaks.
NEET is India’s primary entrance examination for medical colleges and is taken by millions of students each year. Any allegations of question paper leaks tend to trigger significant public backlash. The current Telegram ban is an unprecedented step for the country and has already become the subject of legal challenges.
