India has temporarily blocked access to messaging platform Telegram ahead of a nationwide retest for medical school admissions, as authorities intensify efforts to crack down on exam fraud following a major question paper leak scandal.
The restriction, announced on Tuesday, will remain in effect until June 22, the day the retest is scheduled to take place.
Telegram’s message-editing feature will remain disabled until June 30.
Indian authorities said the measures were necessary to prevent cheating syndicates from using the platform to circulate examination materials and coordinate fraudulent activities.
“Both measures have been taken in the interest of public order, in response to the organised use of the platform by cheating rackets to defraud candidates,” the National Testing Agency (NTA) said in a statement.
The controversy centres on the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET), one of India’s most competitive examinations, taken annually by more than two million students seeking admission into medical colleges.
The exam was cancelled in May after allegations emerged that question papers had been leaked before the test, with reports suggesting that some materials were circulated through Telegram channels.
The scandal triggered nationwide outrage, with students staging protests and demanding the resignation of the education minister. Public anger was further fuelled by a separate controversy involving errors in the grading of high school examinations.
India’s Ministry of Electronics ordered the temporary restriction on Telegram as part of broader efforts to protect the integrity of the retest.
Authorities say the pressure surrounding entrance examinations has created fertile ground for criminal networks that profit from leaked papers and exam manipulation.
With limited university spaces and intense competition for professional careers, many students spend years preparing for these examinations, often at significant financial and emotional cost.
India’s Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested a man described as the alleged mastermind behind the leak. Investigators identified him as a chemistry lecturer involved in the examination process.
The Education Ministry on Monday also launched a public reporting portal, allowing citizens to submit information on suspicious activities, fraudulent claims and unauthorised content linked to the NEET examination.
The scandal has renewed concerns about the intense pressure facing young people in India, where millions struggle to secure stable and well-paying jobs despite the country’s rapid economic growth.
Local media have reported cases of student suicides following the NEET controversy, highlighting the heavy emotional burden associated with high-stakes examinations.
The NEET scandal comes on top of another dispute involving the online marking system used for examinations taken by nearly two million high school students. Several candidates alleged they received incorrect grades or were issued results belonging to other students.
The twin controversies have reignited debate over transparency, accountability and reforms in India’s education system.
