India has blocked the Telegram app to prevent fraud in the NEET-UG exam, scheduled for June 21. Protests have erupted following this measure.

India has decided to temporarily block the Telegram application due to concerns about its use for cheating in medical school entrance exams, just a few days before the resumption of the National Eligibility and Entrance Test for undergraduate studies (NEET-UG) on June 21. The National Testing Agency (NTA) welcomed the ban, stating that the application is used by networks of fraudsters to help candidates cheat. However, civil rights activists criticized the measure, considering it ineffective and that it affects legitimate users who rely on Telegram for studying. The NTA announced that the Ministry of Electronics ordered the restriction of access to the application until June 22 and the disabling of the message editing feature. This decision comes amid a broader scandal related to cheating in the NEET exam, which led to the cancellation of the May competition and protests across the country. The Foundation for Internet Freedom has accused the ban of being unconstitutional and that it will not solve the problem of information leaks in the educational system.