Punjab Newsline | New Delhi
Central Government has decided to temporarily suspend the messaging platform Telegram in India ahead of the NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination, aiming to curb the spread of question papers, rumours, and fake information related to the exam.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) welcomed the move, stating that maintaining the transparency, credibility, and security of the examination process remains its highest priority.
According to the agency, incidents involving the circulation of misleading information and alleged exam material through social media and messaging platforms have been reported during competitive examinations in recent years.
As a precautionary measure, the government has directed a temporary restriction on Telegram services in India until June 22, 2026, ahead of the June 21 NEET-UG re-examination. The NTA has advised candidates to rely only on official websites and authorised communication channels for updates and to avoid believing or sharing unverified information.
The agency further stated that the temporary suspension has been imposed under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000. In a separate directive, Telegram has also been instructed to disable its message editing feature in India until June 30, 2026, preventing any alteration of previously sent messages during the examination period.
The government said the measures are intended to ensure a fair and secure examination environment and to prevent the spread of misinformation that could compromise the integrity of the re-examination.
