India Blocks Telegram Access Ahead of National Medical Exam Retest

India’s electronics ministry on Tuesday restricted access to the Telegram messenger app. This measure was implemented ahead of a retest for the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET), a highly competitive medical college entrance examination, following a question paper leak scandal last month.

Access to Telegram is set to remain restricted until Monday, which is the day of the retest. Additionally, message-editing features on the platform will be limited until June 30. India’s National Testing Agency (NTA) stated these steps were taken "in the interest of public order," citing the platform's alleged use by "cheating rackets to defraud candidates."

The NEET attracts over two million aspiring doctors annually. The original exam was cancelled in May after allegations surfaced that the question paper was leaked in advance, with reports suggesting it had been circulated through Telegram channels.

Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov criticized the electronics ministry’s decision, stating that the week-long ban "hasn’t stopped anything" but instead "punishes" 150 million ordinary users in India, rather than the individuals responsible for leaking exam materials. Durov further suggested that the leaks had simply migrated to other applications. The Internet Freedom Foundation, a digital rights group, characterized the ban as a "disproportionate answer to exam fraud."

The intense pressure to succeed in national exams in India has fostered a significant coaching industry and created opportunities for criminal networks to sell leaked examination papers. India’s Central Bureau of Investigation has reportedly arrested the "kingpin" alleged to be behind the leak, identified as a chemistry lecturer involved in the NTA’s examination process. The education ministry also launched a website on Monday for the public to report suspicious activities related to the NEET exam.

Security measures for the retest included Indian air force helicopters seen on Tuesday preparing for the delivery of test papers, as reported by The Press Trust of India news agency. This was done to "prevent any possibility of leak," with preparations observed in the southern state of Tamil Nadu.

The NEET scandal has added to a broader controversy, including a separate marking fiasco involving an online system used for tests taken by nearly two million high school students. Many students reported receiving incorrect grades or results intended for others. This widespread dissatisfaction has led to youth protests and demands for the education minister’s resignation, contributing to the emergence of satirical movements like the "Cockroach People’s Party."

According to Dawn Pakistan, these events underscore the significant pressure on students in India amid limited professional opportunities and intense competition for stable employment.