In brief
Telegram has taken the Indian government to court over a temporary ban imposed two days before the National Eligibility‑cum‑Entrance Test (NEET) retest. The government says the move protects the exam’s integrity after last month’s test was cancelled over allegations of a paper leak. Telegram’s CEO Pavel Durov describes the ban as a mistake, noting that millions of users use the platform for free study material and that the block would do little to stop the leakers. The ban, the first of its kind in India, has sparked debate and protests, with critics arguing that the government should target the leak‑organisers instead of blocking a widely used messaging service.
Telegram has taken the Indian government to court over a temporary ban imposed a day before the National Eligibility‑cum‑Entrance Test (NEET) re‑exam.
The company filed a complaint Wednesday, following a ban issued yesterday after concerns the platform had been used to distribute leaked exam papers.
The government says the ban will protect exam integrity, as the original test was cancelled over paper‑leak allegations. Telegram’s CEO Pavel Durov counters that shutting down the app is a mistake that punishes 150 million users and does not stop the leak‑organisers, who can move to other platforms.
The Delhi High Court will hear the case later today. Durov has posted on X, noting that Telegram has removed dozens of channels sharing leaked material and that it has strengthened its “edited” notice to flag back‑dated scams.
The crackdown comes amid protests across India, where students, activists and opposition leaders question the exam system’s fairness. The National Testing Agency (NTA) said it had imposed the ban as a response to organised cheating rings using the platform.
Supporters of the ban say authorities should focus on the leak‑organisers. Critics argue that blocking a widely used messaging service may only drive the activity to other channels such as WhatsApp or Discord, and call for a broader approach to exam security.
The NEET re‑test is scheduled for Sunday, with the National Testing Agency reportedly using air force aircraft and helicopters to transport secure exam materials.
