Telegram temporarily blocked in India

During the retake of medical college entrance exams, the Telegram messenger was temporarily blocked until June 22, Zamin.uz reported.

This was reported by Reuters. On June 21, millions of graduates across the country retook the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Undergraduates (NEET-UG), the national entrance exam for medical colleges.

The results of the exam held in May were canceled due to rumors of question paper leaks. The National Testing Agency, which conducts the exams, stated that this measure was taken in response to the possibility of the platform being used in a coordinated manner by fraudsters to deceive candidates.

According to reports, administrators of several Telegram channels demanded tens of thousands of rupees from graduates and their parents for access to materials presented as exam questions. Officials emphasized that such materials do not exist outside the secure examination system.

Internet users and human rights activists criticized the move, calling it a temporary fix for a much more serious problem of cheating in exams. For reference, NEET is considered the main entrance exam for admission to medical colleges in India.

On May 3, 2026, 2.28 million graduates across the country participated in the exam. A few days later, reports of leaked exam questions sparked sharp public outrage.

Following this, the National Testing Agency declared the results invalid and rescheduled the retake for June 22.