India has blocked access to the Telegram messaging app until June 22, saying the platform was being used to defraud candidates sitting for a national medical entrance examination.
The restriction comes ahead of a re-sit of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), scheduled for June 21, following a major scandal over the leakage of examination questions.
According to the Ministry of Education’s National Testing Agency (NTA), the temporary suspension was imposed “in response to the organised use of the platform by cheating rackets to defraud candidates appearing for the NEET 2026 re-examination.”
Last month, Indian authorities cancelled the highly competitive undergraduate medical entrance examination after discovering that question papers had been leaked before the test.
The scandal triggered protests by students in several parts of the country, with demonstrators demanding accountability from education authorities.
Confirming the development on Tuesday, the Ministry of Education said access to Telegram would remain restricted until June 22, one day after the rescheduled examination.
The restriction was imposed under provisions of India’s Information Technology Act, which empowers the government to block access to online platforms in the interest of national security and public order.
Rights groups have previously criticised the law, arguing that it can be used to limit free speech. However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration maintains that such actions are taken in accordance with the law and in the public interest.