New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): The Central Government has defended its decision to temporarily restrict access to Telegram during the NEET-UG re-examination period, stating that the move was aimed at protecting students from misinformation campaigns and online extortion networks allegedly operating through the platform.
Government officials clarified that the restriction is not a permanent ban but a limited and targeted measure linked specifically to the NEET re-examination process. According to officials, the restrictions are expected to remain in place until around June 22, while monitoring related concerns, including message-editing practices, may continue until June 30.
Responding to criticism over the move, officials asserted that the action was designed to curb fraudulent activities targeting students rather than restrict free speech or legitimate communication.
“The objective is not to affect ordinary users but to disrupt the brief period during which scam networks exploit the anxiety of students preparing for a high-stakes examination,” a senior official said.
Government Alleges Large-Scale Scam Targeting Students
According to government sources, several Telegram channels operating under names such as “PAPER LEAKED NEET” and “Re-NEET 2026” were allegedly involved in extortion schemes aimed at students appearing for the medical entrance examination.
Officials claimed that these channels promised access to leaked question papers and demanded payments ranging from ₹14,000 to ₹25,000. In some cases, alleged fraudsters reportedly sought amounts as high as ₹10 lakh from desperate candidates and their families.
Authorities estimate that nearly 22 lakh students could have been exposed to such misleading claims.
“Fraudsters were capitalising on uncertainty and exam-related stress. Their entire operation depended on creating panic and convincing students that they could gain access to leaked papers that did not actually exist,” an official said.
Concerns Over Message Editing Feature
The government also raised concerns about Telegram’s message-editing functionality, claiming it had been used to create misleading evidence of alleged paper leaks.
Officials explained that channel administrators can edit previously posted messages without changing the original timestamp, allowing content to appear as though it had been published before an examination took place.
According to officials, this feature was allegedly exploited to create false narratives suggesting advance access to exam papers, thereby fuelling speculation and confusion among students and parents.
Authorities argued that such practices contributed significantly to misinformation during the examination period.
Enforcement Challenges Cited
Government sources further claimed that traditional enforcement methods had limited success because channels removed by authorities were often replaced quickly by new ones.
Officials also pointed to Telegram’s lack of a registered office, grievance officer or dedicated legal accountability mechanism in India as a challenge in addressing complaints and enforcing legal requests.
According to the government, repeated attempts to curb the activities of specific channels proved ineffective, prompting authorities to adopt a broader temporary restriction during the re-examination period.
The development comes amid heightened scrutiny of online platforms following concerns over examination-related misinformation and alleged paper leak claims. Authorities maintain that the temporary measure is intended to safeguard students and preserve the integrity of the examination process while preventing fraudulent actors from exploiting public anxiety.
