India temporarily blocks Telegram: NEET exam at risk due to fraudsters
Indian regulators have taken unprecedented measures by temporarily blocking the Telegram messenger across the entire country. The restriction came into effect immediately and will last until June 22. The decision was made following an official request from the National Testing Agency (NTA), which uncovered a large-scale fraudulent scheme operating through this platform.
Scammers target applicants
According to the agency, organized criminal groups actively used Telegram to deceive applicants ahead of the NEET medical exam retake scheduled for June 21. Malicious actors created fake channels and groups offering "guaranteed" answers and counterfeit tickets, misleading trusting students. This activity became the catalyst for strict government measures.
India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology prepared a special directive based on Section 69A of the relevant Information Technology Act. This provision allows government bodies to promptly restrict access to internet resources to protect national sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity. In this case, it concerns protecting the integrity and transparency of the national exam.
Additional requirements for Telegram
In addition to the temporary block, Indian authorities issued another strict demand to the messenger's developers. Telegram's management was required to completely disable the edit function for sent messages for users in India until June 30. The NTA explained this step as necessary to prevent scammers from altering already distributed announcements and misleading applicants.
"The NTA understands that the access restriction by regulatory decision affects hundreds of thousands of citizens who use Telegram for personal, educational, work, and informational purposes, and apologizes for the inconvenience caused. Access will be restricted only until June 22, 2026 — that is, the day after the exam," the statement reads.
It is worth noting that the first round of the NEET testing, held on May 3, gathered approximately 2.2 million participants. However, on May 12, the NTA annulled these results due to proven leakage of exam materials. In connection with the incident, officials promptly rescheduled the tests for June 21. To transport the exam assignments, authorities even deployed the Indian Air Force to ensure their security and safe delivery.
Analyst's conclusion
This case is a vivid example of how centralized platforms, even with claims to privacy, become tools in the hands of malicious actors. For the crypto community, this is an additional signal: decentralized and verifiable solutions for communication and data storage are not just a trend but a necessity. While Telegram deals with regulatory issues, the market is seeking alternatives where security is embedded at the protocol level, rather than depending on the goodwill of the administration.