NEW DELHI: The Centre has ordered access to messaging app Telegram restricted across India until June 22, a step the National Testing Agency (NTA) says is meant to shield candidates sitting the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination on June 21 from cheating rackets operating on the platform.The ministry of electronics and information technology (MeitY) issued the direction on Tuesday under Section 69A of the IT Act, covering the test day and its immediate aftermath. A second order requires Telegram to switch off its message-editing feature in India till June 30 — a tool the NTA says rackets misused to plant question papers into old posts and pass them off as proof of a leak.The NTA welcomed the move, calling it “calibrated and bounded in time” and thanking MeitY for acting “in the interest of students.”For weeks, channels with names like “PAPER LEAKED NEET”, “Re-NEET 2026” and “Private Mafia” had demanded anything from a few thousand to several lakh rupees from anxious families, promising the actual paper. The agency was blunt in its rebuttal: “There is no such paper available outside the secured examination chain. The promise of any such material is, in every instance, a fraud.”The crackdown follows arrests on the ground. Ahmedabad City Cyber Crime busted an inter-state gang running eight Telegram channels, with roughly Rs 1.5 crore routed through fake accounts and about a thousand numbers contacted in a single month. Bihar Police’s Economic Offences Unit had earlier warned candidates against such claims, with the I4C under the home ministry coordinating channel take-downs.The NTA admitted the block inconveniences “lakhs of citizens” who use Telegram for legitimate reasons and “sincerely regrets” it, but insisted the restriction ends June 22. “The security of the examination is unaffected by the action taken; it is, in fact, the very purpose of the action,” it said.Amid the noise, the agency offered candidates some reassurance on Tuesday morning, posting that more than 10 lakh students had downloaded their admit cards in roughly 24 hours since the facility opened. “Our tech teams are monitoring the loads on the servers and NTA will ensure that all candidates get their Admit Cards, well in time for the Examination,” it said.The May 3 test was scrapped on May 12 after a leak; over 22 lakh candidates now sit the retest. Candidates have been urged to ignore unverified content online and report fraud to helpline 1930.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.About the AuthorManash Pratim GohainManash Pratim Gohain is a seasoned journalist with over two decades at The Times of India, where he has built a rich body of work spanning education policy, politics, and governance. Renowned for his incisive coverage of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, accreditation reforms, and skilling initiatives, he has also reported on student politics, urban policy, and social movements. His political reportage—both reflective and news-driven—adds depth to his writing, bridging policy with public impact. Through his 2,500 articles and related outlets, he has emerged as a trusted voice in national discourse, particularly in linking education reform to broader societal change.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTMC Alleges BJP Role After Egg Attack On Kunal Ghosh, Questions Police ResponseIndia, Slovakia Upgrade Relations To Comprehensive Partnership; Agree On Counterterror CooperationIndia Turns Up Heat At UN, Seeks Fast-Track Security Council ReformsIndia–Oman Coordination Brings Breakthrough: Indian Crew Rescued Safely”People Began Jumping Out…”: Passenger Recounts Dreading MP Rail Accident Moments’Not Just People, Even Bangladeshi Parties Are Infiltrating’: Adhir Ranjan’s Jibe Amid TMC CrisisBhagwant Mann Faces Akal Takht Rebuke; Sikh Body Summons Punjab CabinetPM Modi Elevates India-Slovakia Ties To Comprehensive Partnership During Historic Bratislava VisitNCERT’s New Class 9 Textbook Alters Mohenjo-daro’s Iconic Dancing Girl, Triggers DebateAbhijeet Dipke Allegedly Slapped At Jaipur Protest, Viral Video Shows Crowd Turning On Accused Man123PhotostoriesInside India’s largest wooden palace: Why every traveller should visit this 400-year-old palace in South IndiaMarble vs solid wood dining table: 7 differences every homeowner should know8 most unusual structures around the world that challenge conventional building designBedroom decor: 5 budget-friendly ideas to keep your room cool this summerParenting coach uses these “Magic words” to teach children discipline: Why every parent should adopt them10 baby girl names meaning strength, bravery and determination10 baby girl names meaning courage, wisdom and resilience5 snakes that love swimming pools and important checks to do before plunging in that cool blue hotel poolSushmita Sen to Mandira Bedi: 5 bollywood actresses who chose adoption and redefined motherhoodSuccess quote of the day by Egyptian footballer Mohamed Salah: “I always think about small details because…”123Hot PicksDelhi rainForm 16Strait of HormuzGreen Card NewsUK weatherUK social media banNoida airportStock Market LiveGold rate todayTop TrendingKerala HSCAP first allotment result 2026UPSC Result PDFDelhi Techie DeathFIFA World Cup 2026Karnataka free electricityDelhi rainITR Form 16CBSE 10th Second Board Result 2026MPBSE MP Board Result 2026RBI Mis-selling rules
NEW DELHI: The Centre has ordered access to messaging app Telegram restricted across India until June 22, a step the National Testing Agency (NTA) says is meant to shield candidates sitting the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination on June 21 from cheating rackets operating on the platform.The ministry of electronics and information technology (MeitY) issued the direction on Tuesday under Section 69A of the IT Act, covering the test day and its immediate aftermath. A second order requires Telegram to switch off its message-editing feature in India till June 30 — a tool the NTA says rackets misused to plant question papers into old posts and pass them off as proof of a leak.The NTA welcomed the move, calling it “calibrated and bounded in time” and thanking MeitY for acting “in the interest of students.”For weeks, channels with names like “PAPER LEAKED NEET”, “Re-NEET 2026” and “Private Mafia” had demanded anything from a few thousand to several lakh rupees from anxious families, promising the actual paper. The agency was blunt in its rebuttal: “There is no such paper available outside the secured examination chain. The promise of any such material is, in every instance, a fraud.”The crackdown follows arrests on the ground. Ahmedabad City Cyber Crime busted an inter-state gang running eight Telegram channels, with roughly Rs 1.5 crore routed through fake accounts and about a thousand numbers contacted in a single month. Bihar Police’s Economic Offences Unit had earlier warned candidates against such claims, with the I4C under the home ministry coordinating channel take-downs.The NTA admitted the block inconveniences “lakhs of citizens” who use Telegram for legitimate reasons and “sincerely regrets” it, but insisted the restriction ends June 22. “The security of the examination is unaffected by the action taken; it is, in fact, the very purpose of the action,” it said.Amid the noise, the agency offered candidates some reassurance on Tuesday morning, posting that more than 10 lakh students had downloaded their admit cards in roughly 24 hours since the facility opened. “Our tech teams are monitoring the loads on the servers and NTA will ensure that all candidates get their Admit Cards, well in time for the Examination,” it said.The May 3 test was scrapped on May 12 after a leak; over 22 lakh candidates now sit the retest. Candidates have been urged to ignore unverified content online and report fraud to helpline 1930.
