India, June 17 -- In a stringent step taken to safeguard the integrity of the re-NEET examination on June 21, following the cancellation of the May 3 exam over malpractice allegations, the Union Government on Tuesday ordered Google and Apple to delist the Telegram app from their app stores till June 22 to check any further paper leaks. The decision of the Government to single out Telegram has however earned criticism from digital advocacy and public policy entities.

This is part of the Government measures to ensure fool-proof security for the re-conduct of the entrance, which has brought a poor image on the machineries as the NEET entrance conducted by NTA has met with similar fate in past as well. Being monitored by Prime Minister Naren...