New Delhi : The Telegram app has been temporarily restricted in India ahead of the NEET UG 2026 re-examination over viral allegations of paper leaks sourced from the app. As Telegram channels flooded students with claims of leaked question papers, edited screenshots and promises of guaranteed access to the exam, the National Testing Agency has now issued its strongest statement yet. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has issued two separate directions.
NTA described both measures as “calibrated and bounded in time” and said they were adopted only after other remedies, including large-scale takedowns of channels and groups, failed to adequately address the problem. According to NTA, the action follows months of monitoring of Telegram channels allegedly being used by organised cheating and cyber fraud networks. The agency said channels with names such as “PAPER LEAKED NEET”, “Re-NEET 2026”, “Private Mafia” and “REE NEET MAFIAA” openly advertised access to the examination paper and demanded payments ranging from a few thousand rupees to several lakh rupees from candidates and their families.
Telegram’s popularity has surged globally over the past decade, including among millions of users in India. The platform became known for its privacy-focused reputation, encryption features, large channels, anonymous usernames and the ability to share files with massive audiences. While these features attracted educators, businesses and content creators, they also made Telegram a preferred platform for groups claiming to offer leaked exam papers and insider access to competitive tests.
Telegram’s popularity has surged globally over the past decade, including among millions of users in India. The platform became known for its privacy-focused reputation, encryption features, large channels, anonymous usernames and the ability to share files with massive audiences. While these features attracted educators, businesses and content creators, they also made Telegram a preferred platform for groups claiming to offer leaked exam papers and insider access to competitive tests.
According to NTA, administrators could edit previously posted messages while retaining the original timestamp. In some cases, they could even replace attached PDF files. The agency says this loophole was allegedly used to manufacture fake proof of paper leaks. Explaining the process, NTA said channel administrators would first post an ordinary message before an examination. After the exam was over, they would edit that older message and insert the actual question paper. Screenshots would then be circulated as supposed proof that the paper had been available before the test.
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