Editorial photo #13842235 Crime, Law and Justice

India Temporarily Blocks Telegram App Over Medical Exam Fraud

The Telegram logo is displayed on a smartphone screen, with the NEET logo app visible on a laptop screen in the background, in this photo illustration taken in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, on June 17, 2026. India temporarily blocks the Telegram messaging app, citing its use in attempts to defraud candidates for a national medical entrance test. The test faced allegations of leaked papers last month, leading to the cancellation of millions of results. The Ministry of Education's National Testing Agency states the ban is in response to the organized use of the platform by cheating rackets targeting the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test 2026 re-examination scheduled for June 21, 2026. Telegram CEO Pavel Durov describes the ban as a ''mistake,'' suggesting it would affect millions of users without effectively addressing the leaks. (Photo by Firdous Nazir/NurPhoto)