Telegram app restricted in India at NTA request until June 21
The Indian government has temporarily blocked Telegram at the request of the National Testing Agency to prevent cheating during the NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination. Authorities identified the platform as a hub for fraudulent groups selling fake exam papers.
Why it matters
This marks a significant instance of government-mandated platform restriction to maintain the integrity of national academic testing.
At the National Testing Agency (NTA) ’s request, the Union government is blocking the messaging app Telegram in India for a week until Monday (June 22, 2026), following what the NTA described as a “response to the organised use of the platform by cheating rackets to defraud candidates appearing for the NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination scheduled on 21 June 2026.”
The report balances the government's security rationale with the context of the platform's usage.
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