A popular messaging app is about to be banned in India for a certain period of time. The reason for the restriction is the re-examination for NEET. The app is highly popular among young people and it would cause a huge inconvenience for the masses.
The Ministry of Education said that India has blocked the Telegram messaging app until June 22 because the platform has been used to “defraud candidates” taking a national medical entrance examination.
The government has restricted access to Telegram in India for a limited period. A provision of IT law allows for the government to block access to online sites in the “interest of sovereignty and integrity of India.”
Activists have said the provision is used to curb free speech, though government says it always acts in compliance with the law.
The previous month, National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) was cancelled by the government after a leak was discovered.
Student protests erupted in different parts of the country demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The government has ordered for a re-examination on June 21.
National Testing Agency said that the action on Telegram was taken “in response to the organised use of the platform by cheating rackets to defraud candidates appearing for the NEET 2026 re-examination scheduled on 21 June 2026,”. Telegram did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Telegram has grown rapidly in India and the country is its biggest market by downloads, although WhatsApp remains the dominant messaging platform.
The government regrets the inconvenience caused to the people due to blocking of Telegram but it was imperative as the earlier action to take down sensitive content from the platform had failed to produce results.
