NEW DELHI (Kashmir English): India blocked access to Telegram messenger Tuesday ahead of a retest of a countrywide medical college entrance examination, after a question paper leak last month marred the process.
The competitive medical entrance exam scandal, along with a separate marking fiasco in high school tests, sparked outrage and made youth protesters demand the education minister’s resignation.
The Ministry of Electronics issued the order restricting access to Telegram until June 22, the day of the retest.
Message-editing features, which allow users to alter existing posts, will also remain suspended until June 30.
“Both measures have been taken in the interest of public order, in response to the organised use of the platform by cheating rackets to defraud candidates,” India’s National Testing Agency (NTA) said in a statement.
The most competitive medical exam
The National Eligibility Entrance Test medical college, attracting more than two million aspiring doctors.
The NEET exam was nullified last month following allegations that the question paper was leaked in advance, including reports suggesting that the paper had been circulated through Telegram channels.
The intense pressure to succeed in these exams has led to a lucrative coaching industry, with tens of thousands of centres across the country.
India’s Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested the “kingpin” alleged to be behind the leak, naming him as a chemistry lecturer involved in the examination process for the NTA.
The education ministry Monday launched a website where the public can report “suspicious claims, unauthorised content, or fraudulent activities” related to the NEET exam.
Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopters on Tuesday were seen readying for the delivery of the test papers, to “prevent any possibility of leak”, the Press Trust of India news agency reported.
The agency also broadcast images of preparations in the southern state of Tamil Nadu.
Students spend years preparing for such exams in the hope of securing a professional career, with limited opportunities and intense competition putting intensive pressure on the aspirants.
