India Blocks Telegram Access Amid Explosive Exam Leak Scandal and Student Protests

(India Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. Photo Credit; Punch News)

India has blocked access to Telegram messenger ahead of a nationwide retest of a medical college entrance examination, following a scandal last month over a leaked question paper.

The original exam’s failure, compounded by a separate marking fiasco affecting high school tests, sparked public outrage and fuelled youth protests demanding the resignation of the education minister.

India’s Ministry of Electronics issued an order restricting access to Telegram until June 22, the date of the retest, while message-editing features that allow users to alter existing posts will remain restricted until June 30.

India’s National Testing Agency said the measures were taken in the interest of public order, in response to organised use of the platform by cheating rackets seeking to defraud candidates.

The National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET), one of the country’s most competitive examinations, attracts more than two million aspiring doctors annually.

The exam was scrapped in May following allegations that its question paper had been leaked in advance, including reports that it circulated through Telegram channels.

The intense pressure surrounding such exams has given rise to a lucrative coaching industry, with tens of thousands of centres operating nationwide.

Fierce competition means success often comes at significant personal and financial cost, creating openings for criminal networks looking to sell leaked papers to the highest bidder.

India’s Central Bureau of Investigation has reportedly arrested the alleged mastermind behind the leak, identified as a chemistry lecturer who was involved in the examination process for the National Testing Agency.

The education ministry launched a website on Monday allowing the public to report suspicious claims, unauthorised content, or fraudulent activity connected to the NEET exam.

Despite the country’s rapid economic growth, millions still struggle to secure stable, well-paying jobs, a reality that has fuelled broader discontent.

Students often spend years preparing for these exams in pursuit of a professional career, with pressure intensified by limited opportunities and fierce competition.

Local media have reported teenage suicides linked to the fallout from the NEET scandal.

The controversy came on top of a separate row over the online marking system used for tests taken by nearly two million high school students, with many students alleging the system had assigned incorrect grades or issued results to the wrong candidates.