TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indian government has banned the use of the Telegram messaging app until June 22, ahead of a retest of a nationwide medical college entrance examination which was cancelled after a scandal involving a question paper leak.
The government said Telegram was used to "defraud candidates" appearing for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) medical entrance test.
The measure on Telegram was taken "in response to the organized use of the platform by cheating rackets to defraud candidates appearing for the NEET 2026 re-examination scheduled on 21 June 2026," said the Ministry of Education's National Testing Agency.
The government said it "regrets the inconvenience caused" by blocking the messaging app, a measure bound to affect hundreds of thousands of people, saying it was a "last resort," after efforts to take down such content from the platform "had not produced" results.
The government has blocked Telegram under a stringent provision of the IT law, which allows it to block access to online sites in the "interest of sovereignty and integrity of India."
Activists have questioned the provision, arguing it is used to curb free speech in the country.
What is the NEET controversy?
Students need to sit the NEET exam to qualify to take admissions to medical colleges across India. Last month, the authorities cancelled the exam, after they found its question paper was leaked.
The cancellation of the highly competitive NEET exam sparked outrage across the country.
Indian media reported suicide cases among teenagers following the fiasco over the NEET exam.
The paper leak also led to large-scale protests by the newly formed satirical Cockroach Janta Party, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Telegram has seen rapid growth in India, making the country its biggest market by download, though WhatsApp remains the dominant messaging platform.
Read: Russia Blocks YouTube and WhatsApp
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Student's Revenge in a Telegram Group
27 Maret 2026
A student involved in terrorism is suspected of exposure to violence in Telegram groups. Membership in the groups has reached 87
WhatsApp to Add Long-Awaited Scheduled Message Feature
26 Februari 2026
Tech company Meta is preparing a scheduled messaging feature for WhatsApp, one of the most requested features by users.
Russia Blocks YouTube and WhatsApp
13 Februari 2026
More websites and messaging apps are blocked in Russia, leaving users to find workarounds and question the future of the internet.
Russia Moves to Block WhatsApp, Pushes State-Backed rival
12 Februari 2026
WhatsApp says Russia has tried to block the app in an attempt to steer users toward a state-backed "national messenger."
Telegram CEO Vows to Fight for App Amid Russia Pressure
11 Februari 2026
Telegram's CEO said he will not be fazed by Russian attempts to limit access to the popular messaging app used by newsmakers of all kinds.
Russia Threatens Full Ban on WhatsApp, Promotes State-Backed MAX
3 Desember 2025
Roskomnadzor, the Russian communication regulatory body, is threatening to ban WhatsApp amid increasing digital control by the Kremlin and the massive promotion of the MAX application.
Russia Requires Switch to MAX, Dropping WhatsApp and Telegram
15 Agustus 2025
Technology experts suspect that the Russian government is using the MAX app to control the internet.
Indonesian Police Block Over 10,000 Child Sexual Abuse Materials on Internet
18 Juli 2025
The Minister of Communication and Digital, Meutya Hafid, revealed that Indonesia ranks fourth in the world for child sexual abuse materials.
Telegram Founder Pavel Durov Plans to Leave Fortune to Over 100 Children He Fathered
26 Juni 2025
The founder of the instant messaging app Telegram, Pavel Durov, revealed that over 100 of his biological children will inherit his wealth.
American National Arrested in Bali for Self-Produced Pornography
21 Mei 2025
An American national named Taylor Kirby Whitemore was arrested for selling and producing pornography in Indonesia.
:strip_icc():format(jpeg):watermark(kly-media-production/assets/images/watermarks/bola/watermark-color-landscape-new.png,1125,20,0)/kly-media-production/medias/5495647/original/074499000_1770385031-barba.jpeg)
