Indian authorities have ordered a temporary nationwide block on the messaging platform Telegram, effective until June 22, amidst escalating concerns that the app is being exploited by fraudsters targeting students ahead of a crucial re-test for the country's largest medical college entrance examination. The National Testing Agency (NTA), responsible for administering the National Eligibility Entrance Test (Undergraduate) (NEET [UG]), announced the measure on Tuesday, specifically citing the organised use of the platform by cheating rackets.
The NTA stated that the restrictions are designed to prevent the sale of counterfeit exam papers and the dissemination of misinformation leading up to the NEET re-test on June 21. Millions of students sit this examination annually. In addition to the temporary ban, the NTA has also requested that Telegram disable its message editing functionality until June 30. This particular request stems from allegations that the feature has been used to create false evidence of exam paper leaks after tests have already taken place, complicating investigations into fraudulent activities.
The order was issued under Section 69A of India's Information Technology Act, a legal framework that empowers the Indian government to block online services and content. However, the move has drawn significant criticism. Pavel Durov, CEO of Telegram, publicly condemned the week-long restriction, arguing that it penalises more than 150 million legitimate users in India rather than effectively targeting the perpetrators of exam leaks. He further suggested that such measures are ineffective, as fraudulent activities would simply migrate to alternative messaging applications.
Digital rights organisations have also voiced strong objections. The Internet Freedom Foundation, an advocacy group, described the restrictions as a 'disproportionate' response to the issue of exam fraud. The group questioned the legality of blocking an entire platform under Section 69A, suggesting that the provision is intended for specific content rather than a blanket ban on a service. They argued that shutting down Telegram is merely a 'band-aid solution' that fails to address the underlying problem comprehensively.
In defence of the decision, NTA Director General Abhishek Singh acknowledged that some fraudulent channels might operate via VPNs or from outside India. However, he maintained that limiting access to Telegram would still significantly reduce the pool of potential victims. Singh asserted that even if channels continue to operate, a lack of clientele due to the ban would ultimately prevent fraud and protect students. The re-test itself was necessitated by a major paper leak scandal last month, which triggered a federal investigation and increased scrutiny of India's national examination system.