The NEET UG 2026 paper leak has not only shaken the education sector; its impact is now extending beyond that realm. The government has decided to ban the Telegram messenger app ahead of the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination, alleging that the platform is being used for fraud, the spread of misinformation, and making fabricated allegations regarding paper leaks.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has requested that the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) temporarily ban the platform. The MeitY has issued a direction under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, restricting access to the Telegram platform in India for a defined and limited period ending June 22, 2026 covering the day of the NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination and its immediate aftermath.

A separate direction requires Telegram to disable in India the message-editing feature for already-posted messages for a defined period ending June 30, 2026 addressing the specific structural feature through which the platform has been used to fabricate after-the-event "paper leak" evidence in respect of national examinations, the NTA said in a statement.

"Both measures have been taken in the interest of public order, in response to the organised use of the platform by cheating rackets to defraud candidates appearing for the NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination scheduled on 21 June 2026," the NTA said.

"The directions are a measure of last resort, taken only after intermediate remedies, including the take-down action coordinated by I4C, had been pursued and had not produced, at the platform level, the response required to protect candidates in the run-up to the examination," NTA added.

The NTA welcomed MeitY order and described as a "timely action" taken in the interest of students and said it would help ensure the conduct of "safe and secure examinations" on June 21.

The NEET UG 2026 exam was held on May 3 and cancelled amidst allegations of irregularities, leaving lakhs of aspirants in despair.