New Delhi: The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Monday announced that authorities have directed temporary restrictions on Telegram’s operations in India as part of efforts to tackle the spread of misleading claims and alleged examination-related fraud linked to the upcoming NEET (UG) re-examination.
According to the agency, the action follows recommendations made by NTA and involves a limited-period restriction on access to the platform during the examination window. Officials said the measure is intended to prevent the circulation of unverified content and curb activities that could compromise the integrity of the test process.
The agency also stated that Telegram has been instructed to suspend certain messaging-editing functions for a specified period. Authorities believe the feature had been exploited by some users to create and circulate content falsely presented as evidence of question paper leaks after examinations had already concluded.
NTA said the decision was taken in coordination with multiple government departments, including agencies responsible for information technology, cybersecurity and law enforcement. Officials maintained that the measures were designed to be temporary and narrowly focused, balancing examination security with public access concerns.
The agency alleged that several online channels and groups had been advertising purported access to examination papers and re-test materials while demanding significant payments from students and their families. NTA reiterated that such claims are fraudulent and warned candidates against falling victim to scams promising leaked question papers or guaranteed examination advantages.
Investigators have reportedly been monitoring online activity linked to examination-related misinformation for several months. Authorities said coordinated efforts involving central and state agencies resulted in the identification and removal of numerous channels suspected of promoting deceptive content.
NTA emphasized that safeguarding the credibility of national-level examinations remains a priority and urged students to rely only on official announcements for information related to NEET. The agency added that legal and technological measures would continue to be deployed against individuals or groups attempting to exploit candidates through misinformation or fraudulent schemes.
Further details on the duration and scope of the restrictions are expected to be released by the concerned authorities.
