NEET UG 2026 Re-Exam: Telegram Banned Temporarily Ahead of June 21 Test

With just a few days remaining for the NEET UG 2026 re-examination, the Government has taken the unusual step of temporarily blocking Telegram across India. The decision, recommended by the National Testing Agency (NTA), comes amid concerns that cheating syndicates and cyber fraud groups were using the platform to spread fake paper leak claims and exploit anxious students.

The restriction will remain in place until June 22, covering the examination period and its immediate aftermath. In addition, Telegram's message-editing feature has been disabled temporarily to prevent the creation and circulation of fabricated "paper leak" evidence after the exam. 

Why Has Telegram Been Blocked?

According to NTA, authorities observed a significant rise in Telegram channels and groups claiming to provide access to the NEET re-examination question paper in exchange for money. Investigations found that several such groups were targeting candidates and parents by promising leaked question papers and guaranteed success in return for large payments.

To address the issue, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) issued a temporary direction under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, restricting access to Telegram in India until June 22, 2026.

The agency stated that the measure is limited in duration and has been introduced specifically to ensure a secure examination environment.

Message Editing Feature Disabled Till June 30

Apart from the temporary access restriction, Telegram has also been directed to disable its message-editing feature in India until June 30, 2026.

NTA explained that this feature had allegedly been misused in previous examinations. Administrators could edit old messages and replace attachments after an examination was conducted while retaining the original timestamp. Such edited posts were then circulated as supposed evidence that question papers had been leaked before the exam.

Authorities believe disabling this feature will help prevent the creation of fabricated "paper leak" screenshots after the NEET re-test.

Action Followed Weeks of Monitoring

NTA stated that the latest action was taken only after several weeks of monitoring and enforcement efforts by multiple government agencies.

The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), operating under the Ministry of Home Affairs, had been actively tracking suspicious Telegram channels, groups, and automated bots linked to examination-related scams. Based on intelligence inputs received from NTA and state police agencies, numerous channels promoting fake paper leaks were reportedly removed over the past few weeks.

Officials noted that channel-level removals alone were insufficient to curb the spread of misinformation, leading to the recommendation for broader platform-level intervention.

Several States Reported Exam Fraud Activities

Authorities also highlighted ongoing investigations in different states involving examination-related cyber fraud.

The Bihar Police Economic Offences Unit had earlier issued a public warning against fake paper leak claims circulating online. Meanwhile, the Cyber Crime Branch in Ahmedabad reportedly arrested members of an inter-state fraud network accused of operating multiple Telegram channels that targeted NEET aspirants.

Investigators alleged that the network collected substantial sums of money from students by falsely promising access to examination material.

NTA Says No NEET Paper Is Available Outside Secure System

Reiterating its stand, NTA clarified that no NEET UG 2026 re-examination paper exists outside the official and secured examination chain.

The agency urged candidates not to trust any individual, group, or online channel claiming to possess the question paper before the examination. It emphasized that such claims are fraudulent and intended to exploit students during a stressful period.

According to NTA, aspirants should rely only on official announcements and verified communication channels for examination-related information.

Temporary Restriction, Says NTA

While defending the decision, NTA acknowledged that Telegram is widely used by students, professionals, educators, and businesses for legitimate purposes. The agency expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to ordinary users but stressed that the restriction is temporary and limited to the examination period.

Officials stated that the platform access block will automatically end on June 22, while the restriction on message editing will remain in effect until June 30.

NEET Re-Exam to Be Held as Scheduled

NTA confirmed that the NEET UG 2026 re-examination will be conducted on June 21 as planned. The agency maintained that the latest measures are preventive in nature and are aimed at strengthening public confidence in the examination process.

Candidates have been advised to focus on their preparation, avoid unverified content circulating online, and report suspicious activities to the appropriate authorities.

How to Report Exam Fraud

Students who encounter suspicious offers, fake paper leak claims, or online scams can report them through:

• National Cyber Crime Helpline: 1930

• National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal: cybercrime.gov.in

• NTA Helpline: 011-40759000 / 011-69227700

• Email: neetug@nta.ac.in