Durov noted that the ban has not halted any activities, as the leaks have “merely shifted to other applications.”
India has placed a temporary restriction on the Telegram app, citing its use in attempts to defraud candidates participating in a national medical entrance examination, which faced allegations of leaked papers last month, resulting in the cancellation of millions of results.
NTA Director General Abhishek Singh remarked that the ban on Telegram until June 22 is part of efforts to ensure the integrity of the re-test scheduled for June 21.
“We will not allow anything to go awry. We will implement all necessary measures to guarantee that the examination proceeds without malpractice,” Singh informed PTI in response to questions regarding the decision.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), following recommendations from the NTA, has issued a directive under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, restricting access to Telegram in India for a specified and limited period, concluding on June 22, 2026, which encompasses the day of the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination and its immediate aftermath.
A separate directive mandates Telegram to disable the message-editing feature for previously posted messages in India until June 30, addressing the particular structural aspect through which the platform has been misused to fabricate “paper leak” evidence regarding national examinations, according to a statement from the NTA.
“Both actions have been taken in the interest of public order, as a response to the organized misuse of the platform by cheating rings to deceive candidates sitting for the NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination on June 21, 2026,” it stated.
When inquired whether the action was prompted by any reports of a paper leak, the NTA chief clarified that there was no such impetus and that the authorities had been addressing fake messages circulating online instead.
“No, these were all false messages. Just yesterday, the Ahmedabad police resolved a case involving the circulation of such fake messages,” he stated.
Singh added that this circulation was causing distress among candidates. “Given the ongoing situation, many individuals were experiencing anxiety, leading to significant mental stress for the students. Therefore, we had to take this action,” he expressed.
First Published: Jun 16, 2026 11:16 PM IST
