India blocks Telegram nationwide over NEET medical exam paper leak concerns
India temporarily blocked Telegram until June 22, citing its use by cheating syndicates to leak NEET-UG medical entrance exam papers. The ban, ordered under IT Act Section 69A, sparked criticism from opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, digital rights activists, and Telegram founder Pavel Durov, who called it disproportionate. The NTA defended the move as a last resort, noting Telegram’s edit feature enabled post-exam paper replacement. Over 2.2 million students must retake the exam on June 21, with at least 14 suicides reported. Durov also alleged Reliance engaged in BGP hijacking to disrupt Telegram, a claim lacking evidence.
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Indian Government Stretches IT Act to Block Telegram Entirely
The Union government of India temporarily blocked the messaging platform Telegram by interpreting the word 'information' in Section 69A of the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000, to cover an entire intermediary platform rather than just specific content. This action was taken to protect the integrity of the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination. The Delhi High Court endorsed this expansive interpretation, effectively weaponizing the content-blocking provision. Telegram had opposed the blanket restriction, arguing that the law only allows blocking specific information, not an entire platform. The move has sparked debate over the scope of government censorship powers under the IT Act.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Telegram Faces Week-Long Ban in India Over Exam Paper Leak Concerns
Telegram, the popular messaging app with over 150 million users in India, is facing a week-long ban starting June 16, 2026, after the National Testing Agency raised concerns that its editing features enabled exam paper leaks and fraud. The Delhi High Court upheld the ban after Telegram challenged it. The article highlights Telegram's unique position as a purely messaging-focused company, unlike diversified competitors Meta and X, and notes that founder Pavel Durov's personal philosophies shape the app. Despite losing millions of dollars in India, Telegram has only a handful of employees in the country. The ban stems from Section 69A of the IT Act, and Telegram has been involved in other legal battles, including copyright cases with Hindi newspaper publishers.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Delhi High Court Rejects Telegram Appeal Against Temporary Ban Ahead of NEET-UG Re-exam
The Delhi High Court on June 19, 2026, rejected Telegram's appeal against a temporary ban imposed by the Indian government ahead of the NEET-UG re-examination scheduled for June 21. Justice Tejas Karia ruled that the government's proactive measures were the least restrictive and not disproportionate, dismissing Telegram's claims of lack of application of mind. The ban, requested by the National Testing Agency (NTA), was based on concerns that Telegram was being used by cheating rackets to defraud candidates. The government argued that Telegram has become the 'new dark web,' citing an Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) assessment that the platform is a hub for illicit activity. Telegram's senior advocate Dhruv Mehta contended that the government failed to justify emergency powers and should have blocked specific content rather than the entire platform. The court upheld the government's authority under Section 69A of the IT Act to block the app for a week until June 22.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Delhi HC to Pronounce Verdict on Telegram's Challenge to Temporary NEET Ban
The Delhi High Court is set to pronounce its verdict on June 19, 2026, on Telegram's plea against the Indian government's temporary ban of the messaging platform, imposed until June 22 in connection with the NEET re-examination. The government argued that Telegram had become a key tool for organized cheating networks involved in the alleged leakage of NEET exam material, and that the platform failed to proactively curb illegal channels. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta described Telegram as the 'new dark web.' Telegram's senior advocate Dhruv Mehta countered that the government did not justify the use of emergency powers and failed to demonstrate why specific content could not be blocked instead of disabling the entire platform. Justice Tejas Karia questioned the proportionality of the ban, asking how the rights of 150 million users could be stopped for one set of examinees. The case highlights tensions between national security/exam integrity and digital rights under Section 69A of the IT Act.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.India tells court Telegram failed to curb illegal channels, cites bot features and global actions
The Indian government informed the Delhi High Court on June 18, 2026, that Telegram messaging app failed to take proactive measures against illegal and suspicious channels, despite repeated requests. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, citing an Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) report, highlighted that Telegram allows one account to create 40 bots, unlike WhatsApp's one bot per user, and that entire channels of up to 100,000 users can be moved instantly, posing serious risks. The government also submitted a list of actions taken against Telegram by other countries for terror-related activities. The hearing follows Telegram's challenge to a temporary ban imposed by India ahead of the NEET-UG re-examination, due to concerns over organized cheating networks using the platform. The court questioned whether blocking all users' rights is justified due to misuse by some. The ban, issued under Section 69A of the IT Act, remains in force until June 22, with a separate direction disabling message editing until June 30.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Telegram CEO Durov's Allegation on Reliance Role in Access Disruption Needs Evidence
Telegram founder Pavel Durov publicly accused Reliance of disrupting access to Telegram for users outside India through Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) hijacking, a serious claim that remains unverified and without public response from Reliance. The article explains BGP as the internet's routing system and how hijacking can redirect or drop traffic. This allegation coincides with India's temporary nationwide block on Telegram until June 22, imposed under Section 69A of the IT Act due to concerns that organized exam-fraud networks used the platform to circulate leaked medical entrance exam material ahead of the NEET-UG re-examination. Authorities also ordered Telegram to disable certain message-editing functions until June 30. Durov criticized the ban, arguing it punishes over 150 million users. The article notes that proving deliberate sabotage requires substantial independent verification, and no conclusive evidence has been publicly presented.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Telegram warned at highest levels before blanket ban over exam paper leak misuse: NTA chief
India's National Testing Agency (NTA) Director-General Abhishek Singh stated that Telegram was warned at the highest levels about misuse of its features before a blanket ban was imposed. The government blocked nationwide access to Telegram until June 22 and ordered the disabling of its message-editing feature for Indian users until June 30, ahead of the NEET re-exam on June 21. Singh explained that cheating syndicates exploit a loophole: bad actors upload dummy PDFs to channels days before exams, then use the edit feature after the exam to replace them with real question papers, creating a false impression of a pre-exam leak. Telegram founder Pavel Durov promised to make the 'edited' label more visible, but the change has not been implemented. Singh also criticized the lack of stringent naming filters, allowing groups with names like 'Paper Leak NEET Mafia' to operate, and argued Telegram must adhere to norms.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.India blocks Telegram after NEET exam leak scandal, sparking outrage
India's government has blocked the messaging service Telegram to prevent further leaks of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) exam questions, which were shared via Telegram channels. The nationwide medical entrance exam was declared invalid after a teacher discovered leaked questions on the platform. Around 2.2 million applicants must retake the exam on June 21, with the air force deployed to securely transport papers. The block has drawn widespread criticism from journalists, Telegram founder Pavel Durov, and digital rights groups, who call it a disproportionate response that punishes 150 million ordinary users. The protest movement 'Cockroach Party' is demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. At least 14 suicides have been reported this year related to the exam.
taz.de - taz.deRahul Gandhi slams Modi government over Telegram ban ahead of NEET re-examination
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticized the Indian government's temporary restriction of Telegram ahead of the June 21 NEET-UG re-examination, calling it a 'new trick' that punishes students instead of addressing paper leak mafias. Telegram stopped working for existing users in India after the Centre ordered its blocking, though it remains accessible via VPN. Google and Apple removed the app from their stores. Gandhi argued that lakhs of students rely on Telegram for study materials and discussions, and the ban is ineffective against the real culprits. He also highlighted recent student suicides in Sikar and Dehradun, blaming the Modi government and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for a 'broken, corrupt system.' The government and NTA defended the measure as necessary to prevent cheating and misinformation during the re-test.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.India blocks Telegram until June 22 over medical entrance exam fraud concerns
India has restricted access to the messaging app Telegram until June 22, citing concerns that the platform is being used to defraud candidates taking the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Neet) for undergraduate medical colleges. The re-examination is scheduled for June 21 after a previous paper leak forced cancellation. The order was issued under a stringent IT law provision allowing the government to block content in the interest of India's sovereignty and integrity. Activists criticize the move as curbing free speech, but the government calls it a measure of last resort. Telegram, which has grown rapidly in India, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Major telecom operators Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea have not confirmed receipt of the blocking order.
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