India temporarily blocks the messaging app Telegram until 22 June, the government says, citing use of the platform by cheating or fraud rackets connected to a high-stakes medical entrance re-exam. Officials say Telegram is used to “defraud candidates” taking the NEET-UG medical entrance exam and that the decision follows a conclusion by authorities that the app was involved in alleged wrongdoing related to the test. Media reports describe the measure as tied to the period before and during the examination and state that access is planned to resume after the exam takes place.
The government order is issued under Section 69A of India’s Information Technology Act, a provision that allows authorities to block public access to online platforms in the “interest of sovereignty and integrity of India,” among other grounds. Multiple outlets report that the suspension applies across India and remains in effect until the stated date, with the government presenting the move as a temporary action aimed at addressing exam fraud concerns.
No details in the summaries provided specify the number of cases, the identities of suspects, or the exact mechanism of the alleged cheating.
