New Delhi- On the recommendation of the National Testing Agency (NTA), the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has blocked access to the entire Telegram platform across India until June 22. Additionally, messaging and editing features have been ordered to be disabled for all Indian users until June 30. The NEET re-exam is scheduled for June 21.

The NTA cited the need to curb fraud rackets and cheating networks operating on Telegram channels, groups, and bots. The Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) has strongly objected to the temporary nationwide restrictions, describing them as an overbroad, constitutionally incompatible response to exam fraud concerns ahead of the NEET UG 2026 re-examination.

The IFF argues that this blanket action punishes millions of legitimate users instead of addressing the root causes of exam leaks.

"Blunt Instrument That Fails Constitutional Tests"

In its detailed press statement, the IFF stated: “Shutting down Telegram is a band aid solution and is a disproportionate answer to exam fraud.”

Key objections raised by IFF include:

Legal Overreach: Section 69A of the IT Act, 2000, allows blocking of specific “information,” not an entire intermediary platform or forcing product redesign (like disabling message editing nationwide). The Supreme Court in Shreya Singhal v Union of India upheld the provision only because it was narrowly tailored.

Proportionality Failure: As per the tests laid down in Justice K.S. Puttaswamy and Anuradha Bhasin cases, restrictions must be the least intrusive. The NTA itself admitted that targeted takedowns of channels and bots had already contained the harm significantly.

Collateral Damage: The block affects lakhs of students, professionals, and citizens who rely on Telegram for education, study groups, doubt-clearing, and legitimate communication, especially during crucial NEET preparation days.

No Evidence of Ongoing Leak: The NTA noted that “no such paper available outside the secured examination chain” and that exam security remains unaffected, raising questions on whether the ban targets rumour rather than actual threats.

No reasoned order from MeitY has been made public, only an NTA press release. It is unclear if Telegram was given a hearing as required under Blocking Rules. The IFF demands publication of the full order for judicial review.

IFF’s Demands to the Government

The IFF has asked the Government to:

1.Publish the MeitY Section 69A order and the NTA recommendation behind it, with reasons;

2. State the legal basis for the message editing direction, or withdraw it;

3. Confirm whether Telegram was given a hearing under the Blocking Rules, and place the committee's record before any court that hears a challenge; and

4. Lift the platform-wide restriction and rely on the targeted takedowns the NTA itself credits with containing the harm.

The IFF concluded that while protecting the integrity of NEET is crucial for lakhs of aspirants, the State cannot switch off a widely used service to address the wrongdoing of a few, especially through opaque orders.