Centre Restricts Telegram Access Ahead of NEET-UG Retest to Prevent Paper Leak

New Delhi: The Central government has imposed strict restrictions on messaging platform Telegram ahead of the NEET-UG re-examination, as part of measures to prevent question paper leaks and curb irregularities by digital mafias.

Access to Telegram has been restricted until June 22. The message edit feature has been disabled across India until June 30. Authorities have also issued directions to closely monitor suspicious groups and channels on the platform and block them immediately if required. The objective is to ensure that no fake messages or leaked content related to the question paper circulate through digital platforms.

The crackdown follows the discovery that question papers and answers from a previous NEET examination had been widely circulated through certain Telegram groups and channels — incidents that had seriously undermined the credibility of the examination system.

Against that backdrop, the government has placed communication platforms under stringent surveillance to ensure the upcoming re-examination is conducted without any irregularities.