Prof. V. Kamakoti said that Telegram's message-editing capabilities can be used to spread false claims about leaked exam papers.
The warning comes as India attempts to restore integrity to its medical entrance system following weeks of protests over a recent paper leak. The government is now implementing reforms to ensure future examinations are transparent and secure.
Kamakoti, who serves as the Director of IIT Madras and a member of the Prime Minister’s six-member [1] Exam Reform Task Force, identified specific vulnerabilities in digital communication platforms. He said that the ability for users to modify messages after they are sent allows bad actors to create a false impression that exam materials have been compromised.
"Telegram allows users to edit messages, which can be misused to create false impressions of leaked exam material," Kamakoti said.
These concerns are central to the strategy for the NEET UG 2026 re-test, which is scheduled for June 21 [2]. The task force is working to develop a more leak-proof system to prevent the recurrence of the scandals that sparked widespread student unrest.
According to the task force, the goal is to move toward a more secure framework that limits the ability of external parties to manipulate information during the examination window. The reforms aim to shift the process from traditional methods toward more secure, technologically driven oversight to ensure that no single point of failure leads to a national leak.
Kamakoti said that these vulnerabilities have been exploited in the past, making the curb on certain platform activities necessary for the stability of the national testing process.
“Telegram allows users to edit messages, which can be misused to create false impressions of leaked exam material.”
The focus on Telegram's edit feature indicates that the Indian government is shifting its strategy from merely securing physical papers to managing the digital information ecosystem. By identifying how misinformation is weaponized to create panic and distrust, the Exam Reform Task Force is acknowledging that perceived leaks can be as destabilizing to the educational system as actual security breaches.
