Telegram Ban Until NEET UG Re-Exam: Know What Officials Have Said

Telegram has been banned for a week in India. The National Testing Agency (NTA) has requested the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to ban Telegram channels for a week to ensure the smooth conduct of the NEET-UG Re-Exam, which is scheduled to be held on June 21. The step aims to prevent any unfair practices and ensure that the examination is conducted securely. While Google has removed Telegram from the Play Store and Apple is expected to comply soon by removing the same from the App Store. Telegram's CEO Pavel Durov has argued that banning the platform may not be the solution, as leaks can also originate from other social media channels. On X, he mentions how the ban affects legitimate users.

About The Ban on Telegram

The National Testing Agency (NTA) recently requested to impose restrictions on certain Telegram channels until June 22, 2026, to ensure the smooth and fair conduct of the NEET-UG examination. The union government has announced the banned. The agency took this step to prevent the spread of misinformation, fake messages, and unauthorized claims related to the examination process.
According to officials, several channels, including "PAPER LEAKED NEET," "Re-NEET 2026," "Private Mafia," and "REE NEET MAFIAA," circulated unverified claims about the prior availability of examination papers. By restricting these channels, the NTA aims to curb misinformation and safeguard the integrity of the examination.
However, many students have voiced concerns over the restrictions, stating that they rely on Telegram to access revision notes, previous years' question papers, and other study materials shared on educational channels.

What do Officials State?

Abhishek Singh, Director-General of the National Testing Agency (NTA) told The Hindu emphasising on the editing features that

“The government had previously approached Telegram regarding the misuse of two specific features, including making edited timestamps visible in Telegram groups and addressing the issue of lack of stringent naming filters for its groups. However, Telegram did not alter its system then.” 

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov stated that Telegram was a force for good and that banning it, even temporarily, was a mistake. It is impacting approx 150 million users and is not the solution to paper leak.

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