New Delhi: Messaging platform Telegram has moved the Delhi High Court against the Centre’s decision to temporarily block access to the application across India ahead of the upcoming NEET-UG re-examination. The court has agreed to hear the matter, setting the stage for a legal battle over the government’s unprecedented move to restrict a major communication platform over concerns linked to examination-related fraud and paper leak rumours.
The temporary ban, imposed on the recommendation of the National Testing Agency (NTA), came into effect on Tuesday and is scheduled to remain in force until June 22, 2026, just days before the NEET-UG re-exam. In addition, Telegram’s controversial message-editing feature has reportedly been disabled until June 30.
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov sharply criticized the government’s decision, arguing that the measure unfairly affects more than 150 million users in India while failing to address the individuals responsible for leaking examination-related content or spreading misinformation.
According to Durov, banning the platform would not eliminate the problem of paper leaks. “Those involved in leaking papers or conducting fraud will simply move to other platforms,” he reportedly stated, adding that ordinary users are being penalized for the actions of a small number of offenders.
Why Did the Government Ban Telegram?
The Centre’s decision follows widespread concerns over the alleged misuse of Telegram during the controversy surrounding the NEET-UG 2026 examination, which was conducted on May 3, 2026 and later cancelled due to alleged irregularities and paper leak allegations.
Government officials have argued that Telegram’s structure makes it particularly vulnerable to misuse. Unlike many other messaging platforms, Telegram allows users to create channels and groups while concealing their identities. Some channels reportedly attracted millions of subscribers by claiming to offer leaked examination papers and answer keys.
Officials said fraudsters used these channels to deceive students and parents, charging amounts ranging from thousands to lakhs of rupees for purported access to examination papers.
NTA Director General Abhishek Singh reportedly said authorities had “no option” but to seek restrictions after repeated instances of misuse and the spread of misleading information.
Message Editing Feature Under Scrutiny
A major concern highlighted by investigators is Telegram’s message-editing functionality. Authorities claim that channel administrators exploited the feature by editing previously posted messages after the examination had concluded.
Because edited messages continue to display their original posting timestamps, fraudsters allegedly uploaded question papers after the exam and then presented screenshots as “proof” that the papers had been leaked beforehand. Investigators believe this practice helped create false narratives about advance access to examination content.
Officials argued that disabling the feature temporarily was necessary to prevent further misuse during the sensitive re-examination period.
Large File Sharing and Anonymous Channels
The government has also pointed to Telegram’s ability to share large files, up to 2GB in size, without significant compression. Investigators say this feature made it easier for users to circulate examination papers, answer keys, PDFs, images, and videos.
Another concern relates to Telegram’s channels and groups. While Telegram groups can accommodate up to 200,000 members, channels can broadcast messages to virtually unlimited audiences. Authorities claim this enabled examination-related rumours and alleged leaked material to spread rapidly.
Investigators reportedly uncovered a racket in Ahmedabad operating eight Telegram channels connected to fake paper leak schemes. The probe allegedly revealed financial transactions worth approximately ₹1.5 crore, highlighting the scale of the operation.
Why Was Telegram Targeted Instead of WhatsApp?
Government officials have defended the decision by drawing distinctions between Telegram and WhatsApp.
According to the authorities, WhatsApp requires users to register through mobile numbers and generally offers greater traceability under existing legal frameworks. Group sizes are also significantly smaller, limiting the speed at which content can spread.
Officials further argued that Telegram’s username-based system allows users to interact without revealing phone numbers, making identification more difficult in certain cases.
The Centre maintains that these structural differences justified the temporary restrictions, particularly during the period leading up to the NEET-UG re-examination.
Telegram Says It Has Taken Action
Telegram, however, has rejected suggestions that it failed to address misuse on its platform. The company stated that it has intensified moderation efforts in recent years.
According to figures cited by the platform, Telegram blocked more than 43.5 million channels in 2025. The company also reportedly increased its daily channel removal rate from around 80,000 to 1,40,000 channels in 2026. Despite these measures, authorities argue that illegal and misleading content continued to circulate.
NEET-UG Re-Exam and New Measures
The controversy comes as the NTA prepares for the nationwide NEET-UG re-examination following the cancellation of the original test.
The agency has introduced several changes aimed at improving transparency and reducing malpractice. The duration of the examination has been increased from 180 minutes to 195 minutes, and candidates will now receive four rough-work pages instead of two.
The revised examination will be conducted from 2:00 PM to 5:15 PM. The question booklet design has also been modified to accommodate left-handed students, and the new rules will apply across all regional-language versions as well as the English paper.
NEET remains India’s largest medical entrance examination, serving as the gateway to admissions in MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, Nursing, AIIMS, JIPMER, and other medical and dental institutions across the country. The examination facilitates admission to more than one lakh medical seats nationwide.
