Telegram CEO Pavel Durov Criticises Temporary Ban in India Ahead of NEET-UG 2026 Re-Exam

New Delhi: Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov has criticised the Indian government's decision to temporarily block Telegram ahead of the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination, stating that the move impacts millions of legitimate users while doing little to stop the individuals responsible for exam-related leaks.

The Indian government has restricted access to Telegram from June 16 to June 22, 2026, following recommendations from the National Testing Agency (NTA). The temporary suspension comes ahead of the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination scheduled for June 21. Google has already removed Telegram from the Play Store in India, while Apple is expected to comply with the directive as well.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Pavel Durov expressed his concerns over the decision. He stated that banning Telegram because some users shared leaked exam questions punishes more than 150 million ordinary users across India instead of targeting those directly involved in the leak. He also argued that such restrictions do not eliminate the problem, as the content simply migrates to other platforms.

Durov further revealed that Telegram has recently removed hundreds of channels involved in sharing leaked exam materials and operating scams related to competitive examinations. According to him, the platform has also improved the visibility of its message-editing labels to prevent misuse and backdating scams. He described Telegram as a force for good and called the temporary ban a mistake.

Why the Government Imposed the Ban

The National Testing Agency said the restrictions are intended to prevent organised cheating networks and curb the spread of misinformation before and after the re-examination.

NTA Director General Abhishek Singh stated that authorities are committed to ensuring a fair and transparent examination process. He clarified that the action was not triggered by any new paper leak but was aimed at stopping fake messages and misleading claims that were causing stress and confusion among students.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) issued the order under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000. In addition, Telegram has reportedly been instructed to disable editing of previously published messages in India until June 30.

Concerns Over Telegram's Editing Feature

According to the NTA, some Telegram channel administrators exploited the platform's editing functionality by modifying old messages and replacing attached files while retaining the original timestamp.

This practice allegedly enabled individuals to insert actual question papers into older posts after an examination had already taken place. Screenshots of these edited messages were then circulated as supposed proof that the papers had been leaked beforehand. Authorities believe restricting the feature will help prevent the creation of misleading evidence.

The agency reiterated that authentic question papers remain secure throughout the examination process and warned students against fraudsters claiming to have early access to exam content.

Telegram Channels Under Investigation

In recent weeks, several Telegram channels with names such as "PAPER LEAKED NEET," "Re-NEET 2026," and similar titles allegedly demanded money from students in exchange for access to purported examination papers.

Before implementing the platform-wide restriction, authorities had already worked with the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) and state police departments in Bihar, Gujarat, and Rajasthan to remove numerous channels, groups, and bots associated with these activities.

NEET-UG 2026 Re-Examination

The original NEET-UG examination conducted on May 3, 2026, was cancelled following allegations of irregularities and malpractice. The re-examination is scheduled to take place on June 21.

The NTA has advised candidates to rely exclusively on official announcements and information published through its official channels. Students have also been encouraged to report suspicious activities through the National Cyber Crime Helpline or the government's cybercrime reporting portal.

Mixed Reactions Online

The temporary ban has generated widespread debate among students, technology experts, and digital rights advocates.

The Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) described the move as a disproportionate response and questioned whether a nationwide restriction on an entire platform was justified.

Cybersecurity researcher Nisarga Adhikary argued that blocking Telegram would not effectively prevent information sharing, as users could easily bypass restrictions through alternative methods.

Meanwhile, IIT Kanpur Director Manindra Agrawal defended concerns regarding Telegram's editing feature, stating that it could be used to create convincing but false evidence of question paper leaks. According to him, this specific functionality makes the platform particularly vulnerable to misuse.

Student activist Sarthak Siddhant also criticised the decision, questioning whether shutting down an entire communication platform was an appropriate response to misinformation spread by a limited number of users.

As the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination approaches, the debate continues over whether platform-wide restrictions are an effective solution to combat examination-related misinformation and fraud while balancing the interests of millions of legitimate users.