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MeitY Orders Blocking of Telegram in India Until June 22 2026

medianama.com@policy_brief3 hours ago·Technology Policy·3 comments

MeitY has directed the blocking of Telegram in India until June 22, 2026, and disabled its message-editing feature until June 30, 2026, in response to concerns over exam integrity ahead of the NEET-UG 2026...

meitysocial mediadigital platformsindiasection 69aexam integrity

On June 16, 2026, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) issued a direction under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, ordering the blocking of Telegram in India until June 22, 2026, and requiring Telegram to disable its message-editing feature in India until June 30, 2026. The direction was issued on the recommendations of the National Testing Agency (NTA) in connection with the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination scheduled for June 21, 2026.

What Changed

MeitY directed all internet service providers and intermediaries to block access to Telegram in India from the date of the order (June 16) through June 22, 2026. Separately, MeitY ordered Telegram to disable its message-editing feature for Indian users until June 30, 2026. The order is calibrated and time-bound, targeting the period covering the NEET-UG 2026 re-exam and its immediate aftermath.

Reason for the Restriction

The NTA recommended the action after investigations found that bad actors had exploited Telegram's message-editing capability to manipulate evidence of question paper leaks. Channel administrators could edit previously posted messages, replace attached files (including PDFs), and retain the original timestamp. This allowed them to insert actual question papers into older, unrelated messages after an exam concluded and then circulate screenshots as proof of a pre-exam leak. By disabling the edit feature and blocking the platform temporarily, the government aims to close this route for creating misleading "paper leak" evidence.

Compliance Timeline

  • Blocking of Telegram in India: Effective June 16, 2026, until June 22, 2026.
  • Disablement of Telegram's message-editing feature in India: Effective immediately, until June 30, 2026.
  • The NEET-UG 2026 re-examination is scheduled for June 21, 2026.

Operational Impact

All Indian internet service providers must enforce the Telegram block from June 16 to June 22. Telegram must implement the message-editing feature disable for its India user base by the effective date. Non-compliance with Section 69A orders can result in penalties under the IT Act, including potential imprisonment and fines for intermediaries that fail to comply. For platform operators and compliance teams, this order signals heightened regulatory scrutiny of messaging platforms during high-stakes examinations. Monitor NTA and MeitY announcements for further guidance on extended restrictions or precedent-setting actions.

Source: Telegram restricted in India until June 22 ahead of NEET-UG 2026 re-exam
Domain: medianama.com

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