India has temporarily blocked access to the Telegram messaging app until Monday and ordered restrictions on certain platform features, in a move linked to concerns over exam-related fraud and leaked test materials.
Authorities say the platform has been used by organised cheating networks to distribute leaked questions and defraud candidates ahead of national examinations. The restriction was issued under provisions of India’s IT law, which allows the government to limit access to online platforms in the interest of national security and public order.
The action comes after the cancellation of a major medical school entrance exam, the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), following the discovery of leaked questions. The scandal triggered widespread student protests across the country and fuelled public anger over exam integrity.
A replacement exam has now been scheduled for Sunday.
Officials from the National Testing Agency said the decision to restrict Telegram was made specifically in response to its use in coordinating cheating networks linked to the upcoming re-examination.
Telegram founder Pavel Durov criticised the move, arguing that it punishes millions of ordinary users rather than targeting those responsible for the leaks. He also claimed that similar illicit activity has simply shifted to other platforms.
The Indian government described the restriction as a “last resort,” saying earlier efforts to remove harmful content from the platform had not been effective. It also acknowledged the inconvenience caused to users but maintained that the action was necessary to protect the integrity of national examinations.
Telegram remains widely used in India, even as WhatsApp continues to dominate the country’s messaging landscape.
