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The Centre has temporarily restricted access to the Telegram messaging platform across India ahead of the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination, citing concerns over cheating networks and the spread of misleading content related to national-level entrance exams.

The move follows recommendations made by the National Testing Agency (NTA), which has been working to strengthen exam security and prevent malpractice during the medical entrance examination.

According to an official statement, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has invoked provisions under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, to restrict access to Telegram for a limited period ending on June 22, 2026. The restriction covers the day of the NEET-UG re-test as well as the immediate days following the examination.

Telegram's Message Editing Feature Also Restricted

In a separate directive, the government has instructed Telegram to disable the message-editing feature for users in India until June 30, 2026.

The NTA said the step targets a specific platform feature that has allegedly been misused in the past to create or alter messages after examinations and falsely present them as evidence of question paper leaks.

Officials believe restricting message edits will help prevent the circulation of fabricated screenshots and misleading claims that could undermine the integrity of national examinations.

Move Aimed at Protecting Exam Integrity

The temporary measures are part of a broader effort by authorities to crack down on cheating syndicates, paper leak rumours, and misinformation campaigns surrounding competitive examinations.

The NTA stated that the restrictions are precautionary in nature and have been implemented to ensure a fair and transparent conduct of the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination.

The agency has repeatedly emphasized its commitment to maintaining the credibility of India's largest medical entrance test and preventing the misuse of digital platforms for exam-related fraud.