Centre Blocks Telegram Till June 22 Over NEET-UG Paper Leak Probe
The Indian government on Tuesday temporarily blocked the messaging platform Telegram until June 22, citing the platform's non-cooperation in the investigation of the May 3 NEET-UG paper leak allegations. The ban applies to the estimated 150 million users in India and will remain in effect until one day after the scheduled re-examination on June 21.
According to official sources, Telegram failed to assist authorities in curbing the spread of fraudulent claims about access to the re-examination paper. The government also issued a direction to Telegram to disable its message-editing feature for already posted messages until June 30. The National Testing Agency (NTA) stated that this measure would address the platform's structural feature through which fabricated 'paper leak' evidence was being circulated after the event.
Telegram founder Pavel Durov reacted to the ban by saying that Indian authorities had 'punished' over 150 million ordinary users. He claimed the ban had not stopped leaks, which 'simply moved to other apps'. The government has not commented further on Durov's remarks.
The decision comes amid heightened scrutiny of the NEET-UG examination process after the May 3 paper leak led to its cancellation. The re-examination is scheduled for June 21. Meanwhile, political reactions have emerged in Kota, a major coaching hub, where Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is set to visit on Wednesday. The BJP has accused Gandhi of 'politicising' student issues, while the Congress insists the visit is not political. Students and coaching institutes have expressed concern over the timing of political engagements ahead of the re-test.
The ban on Telegram is part of a broader government effort to maintain the integrity of national examinations and prevent future leaks. Authorities have not disclosed specific details of the investigation, but the move underscores the government's stance on holding platforms accountable for content that undermines public trust in examinations.
