Government Restricts Telegram Access Before NEET Exam Amid Concerns of Paper Leaks

The Union government has announced restrictions on the popular messaging platform Telegram, effective until June 22, coinciding with the re-examination date for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) 2026. This decision comes amidst rising concerns regarding the misuse of the app’s features, which the National Testing Agency (NTA) alleges have been exploited to disseminate false information about examination leaks.

As part of the measures to ensure a fair examination process, the government has also ordered the suspension of Telegram’s message-editing functionality until June 30. The NTA has identified instances where applicants used this feature to create and spread fabricated claims about paper leaks during recent examinations, which undermines the integrity of the testing process.

In a separate yet equally concerning matter, a new study published by the Center for the Study of Organized Hate has highlighted the troubling trend of Hindutva-themed ‘hate music’ proliferating across various social media and streaming platforms. The study identifies 523 hate songs on platforms such as YouTube, Meta, Apple Music, and Spotify, many of which violate community guidelines designed to prevent hate speech.

The report reveals that over half of the identified songs contain direct threats or incite violence against religious minorities, while the remainder engage in dehumanizing rhetoric and hate speech. Alarmingly, when 225 of these songs were flagged for policy violations in October, only 18 were removed by May, reflecting a mere 8% takedown rate by the platforms involved.

This juxtaposition of digital governance and the spread of hate music paints a stark picture of the current societal climate in India. As digital platforms continue to grow in influence, the challenges they pose to both security and social harmony are becoming increasingly apparent. The government’s actions against Telegram seek to reinforce the integrity of educational assessments, while the findings regarding hate music underscore the urgent need for stricter enforcement of content policies across digital platforms.

Source: scroll.in