Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday chaired a high-level meeting with central security and intelligence agencies to review preparations for the upcoming NEET-UG re-examination. He directed strict action against fake Telegram channels and online groups spreading misinformation related to the medical entrance exam.
Officials highlighted that several suspicious Telegram channels and anonymous groups become highly active before major examinations, circulating fake paper leak claims, clickbait content, and unverified information that create panic among students and parents. Intelligence inputs revealed that many of these channels are operated through a limited set of phone numbers, indicating coordinated activity.
At a parallel meeting with representatives of Meta, Google, and Telegram, serious concerns were raised over the growing spread of misinformation linked to competitive examinations. The platforms assured cooperation in identifying, blocking, and deleting misleading content to safeguard students from false narratives.
Pradhan stressed that safeguarding students and maintaining public confidence in the examination process is a top priority. He ordered proactive identification and takedown of channels spreading fake information, propaganda, and panic before the re-exam.
The NEET-UG 2026 exam held on May 3 was cancelled on May 12 after allegations of a coordinated paper leak. The re-exam will now be conducted on June 21, 2026, across 551 cities in India and 14 abroad, with over 22 lakh candidates expected to appear. The government has also announced plans to shift NEET to computer-based testing from 2027 to enhance security.
Authorities have been directed to coordinate with district magistrates and police officials to ensure strict monitoring at exam centres, along with adequate facilities such as transportation and drinking water for students during the re-examination.
