Central Government Imposes Temporary Telegram Ban for NEET-UG Exam Security

In a significant move to enhance the integrity of the NEET-UG examination, the Central Government has imposed a temporary ban on Telegram until June 22, 2026. This decision, supported by the National Testing Agency (NTA), aims to prevent the spread of misinformation and ensure transparency during the exam process. The NTA has noted that social media has been a source of exam-related misinformation in the past. The NEET-UG exam is set for June 21, with admit cards already available for over 22 lakh candidates. Read on for more details about this crucial update.

By Ambika Singh Jun 16, 2026, 17:39 IST

Government's Directive on Telegram Ban

A significant announcement has been made by the Central Government concerning the NEET-UG re-examination. To enhance the integrity of the NEET-UG exam, a temporary ban on Telegram has been enforced. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has issued a directive that prohibits the use of Telegram until June 22, 2026.

Support from the National Testing Agency

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has expressed its full support for this decision made by the Central Government. This action aims to bolster the security and transparency of the NEET examination process.

Details of the Ban

**Message Editing Feature Disabled**

The ban on Telegram is enforced under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, and will remain in place until June 22, 2026. Furthermore, the message editing feature on Telegram will be disabled until June 30, 2026. This measure is intended to prevent any potential misuse related to the examination.

Reasons Behind the Ban

**Rationale for the Temporary Ban**

In light of this decision, the NTA has noted that misinformation and exam-related content have been disseminated to students through social media and messaging platforms during competitive exams over the past few years. The NTA believes that this ban will help mitigate the spread of rumors and unauthorized information regarding question papers among students.

Upcoming NEET-UG Examination

The NEET-UG examination is scheduled for June 21. Admit cards have already been issued to over 22 lakh students who will be participating in the exam. Candidates can download their admit cards from the official website.