Platform access blocked till June 22
Message-editing feature disabled till June 30
Authorities target cheating rackets exploiting students
Srinagar, Jun 16 (KNO): In a major step aimed at safeguarding the integrity of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG) 2026 re-examination, the National Testing Agency (NTA) on Tuesday welcomed the Government of India’s decision to impose temporary restrictions on the Telegram messaging platform.
The action, according to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), comes ahead of the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination scheduled for June 21 and follows recommendations made by the NTA and the Department of Higher Education to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
An official statement stated that the access to Telegram in India has been restricted for a limited period ending June 22, covering the examination day and the immediate post-examination period. In addition, Telegram has been directed to disable its message-editing feature in India until June 30.
The NTA stated that the measures were taken in the interest of public order and to prevent the spread of fraudulent claims related to examination paper leaks.
CRACKDOWN ON EXAM FRAUD NETWORKS
The agency said that over the past several weeks, numerous Telegram channels and groups had been openly advertising purported access to NEET examination papers and demanding money from students and their families.
These channels, operating under names such as “Paper Leaked NEET,” “Re-NEET 2026,” “Private Mafia,” and similar titles, allegedly charged candidates amounts ranging from a few thousand rupees to several lakh rupees by falsely promising access to confidential examination material.
Reiterating its position, the NTA emphasized that no examination paper exists outside the secure examination chain and that every such claim is fraudulent.
“The promise of obtaining the question paper before the examination is a scam intended to exploit anxious candidates and their families,” the agency stated.
MESSAGE EDITING FEATURE USED TO CREATE FAKE LEAK EVIDENCE
The NTA highlighted another concern involving Telegram’s message-editing capability.
According to the agency, channel administrators were able to modify previously posted messages, including replacing attached PDF files, while retaining the original timestamp. Authorities alleged that this feature had been exploited in several examinations to create fabricated evidence of paper leaks.
Investigators found instances where administrators allegedly inserted actual question papers into older messages after examinations had concluded and then circulated screenshots showing earlier timestamps to falsely suggest that the papers had been leaked beforehand.
Officials said the temporary suspension of the editing feature would help prevent such manipulation during the sensitive post-examination period.
I4C LED NATIONWIDE MONITORING EFFORT
The NTA credited the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), operating under the Ministry of Home Affairs, for spearheading the operational response against online examination fraud.
Acting on intelligence inputs from the NTA, state police agencies, and its own cyber monitoring mechanisms, I4C coordinated the takedown of numerous Telegram channels, groups, and automated bots that were allegedly engaged in spreading misinformation and running examination-related scams.
The agency described the collaboration between I4C, MeitY, and various state law enforcement agencies as the backbone of efforts to contain the activities of cheating networks ahead of the examination.
STATE POLICE INVESTIGATIONS UNCOVER LARGE-SCALE FRAUD
The statement also referred to several enforcement actions undertaken by state police agencies.
The Bihar Police Economic Offences Unit had earlier issued a public advisory warning candidates against fraudulent paper leak claims being circulated online.
Meanwhile, the Cyber Crime Branch of Ahmedabad Police reportedly arrested members of an inter-state cyber fraud network that was allegedly operating eight Telegram channels connected to examination scams. Investigators found financial transactions amounting to nearly ₹1.5 crore routed through fraudulent bank accounts and discovered that approximately 1,000 mobile numbers had been targeted within a month.
Authorities said investigations into similar activities are underway in several other states.
TEMPORARY MEASURE, SAYS NTA
Acknowledging the inconvenience caused to millions of legitimate Telegram users across the country, the NTA said the platform restriction is temporary and limited to the examination window.
Officials clarified that while access to the platform will remain restricted only until June 22, the message-editing restriction until June 30 will not affect users’ ability to send or receive new messages.
The agency stressed that the measures were adopted only after intermediate remedies, including channel-specific takedowns, failed to adequately address the problem.
STUDENTS ASKED TO IGNORE RUMOURS
The NTA reassured candidates and parents that the security of the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination remains intact and that the examination will be conducted as scheduled on June 21.
The agency urged students to focus on their preparation and avoid falling prey to misinformation circulating on social media platforms.
Candidates have been advised to rely solely on official updates available through the NEET website and verified NTA communication channels.
The NTA also appealed to the public to report any suspicious offers, paper leak claims, or fraudulent solicitations through the National Cyber Crime Helpline (1930) or the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
INTER-AGENCY EFFORT APPRECIATED
The agency expressed gratitude to MeitY, the Ministry of Home Affairs, I4C, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and police forces across several states for their coordinated efforts in protecting the credibility of one of India’s largest and most competitive entrance examinations.
According to the NTA, the combined action of these agencies has played a crucial role in safeguarding the interests of lakhs of students appearing for the re-examination and maintaining public confidence in the examination process. (KNO)
