17 June,2026 09:27 AM IST | Mumbai | Aditi Alurkar
The re-NEET is scheduled to be held on June 21. REPRESENTATION PIC/ISTOCK
With less than a week to go for the re-NEET, scheduled after the first exam was compromised, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has now cracked down on the âTelegram' cloud-based messaging platform, where messages about the paper leaks have run rampant in the past. With orders from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) and central agencies, the app is to be restricted in India till June 22, 2026, a day after the exam.
On May 27, mid-day published a report about messages being circulated on Telegram channels where alleged scammers quoted prices from Rs 80,000 to Rs 1 lakh for re-NEET papers. mid-day noted that the channel had close to 900 subscribers, and the members were also offered different instalment options for the papers.
A screengrab of a chat trail on a Telegram group where scammers were selling re-NEET papers. PIC/ADITI ALURKAR
On June 16, the NTA also announced in a public statement that Telegram channels called âPAPER LEAKED NEET', âRe-NEET 2026', âPrivate Mafia', âREE NEET MAFIAA' were openly demanding sums ranging up to lakhs, claiming access to the re-examination paper.
Experts believe disabling such platforms, as at best, can help "prevent the circulation of fake news". "Platforms like WhatsApp and the dark web still exist⦠the mediums are plenty. The centre has also asked for a pause on the editing of messages on the platform; this move might help them collect evidence," said Ankur Puranik, a cybersecurity expert.
Looking towards the future of NEET in the computer-based mode, a single NTA server, and complete confidentiality on question paper sets can be a solution, says Puranik. "A computer-based test where students are directly shown the paper from NTA servers, with no prior knowledge of which set will appear, can be a good way to take this ahead," he added.
The other angle to the NEET paper leak this year was the alleged involvement of some educators and coaching class owners. "Many corporate coaching classes are greedy for numbers; others want quick money. The many steps involved in a pen-to-paper exam - the printing, transportation, and distribution - create security gaps. But the test is soon to go digital, which should help plug loopholes," said Prajesh Trotsky, heading the Maharashtra Class Owners Association. In the meantime, NTA continues to clarify that the official re-NEET paper is still secure ahead of the exam on June 21.
The NTA has clarified that a channel administrator can use Telegram to edit an older message to insert the actual question paper once the examination has been conducted. This leads many to believe that the paper was circulated before time.
The Ahmedabad City Cyber Crime Branch has arrested members of an inter-state cyber fraud gang found to be operating eight Telegram channels with transactions amounting to approximately Rs 1.5 crore, routed through fraudulent bank accounts. As per the Crime Branch statement, nearly 1000 mobile numbers were contacted in a single month. Investigations are in progress.
For help...
National cybercrime helpline: 1930
National cybercrime reporting portal: cybercrime.gov.in.
National Testing Agency: 011-40759000 /
011-69227700
Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, has restricted access to the Telegram platform in India till 22 June 2026.
June 22
Day unrestricted access will resume
