Delhi High Court issues notice to the Centre but does not stay the temporary restriction imposed ahead of the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination.

Messaging platform Telegram has not received interim relief from the Delhi High Court in its challenge to the Centre’s temporary restriction on the app ahead of the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination.

The court issued notice to the Union government and agreed to hear the matter, but did not pass any immediate order suspending the restriction. The temporary curbs were imposed until June 22 as part of measures aimed at preventing exam-related fraud and the circulation of fake paper leak claims before the June 21 re-test.

Telegram has argued that the restriction affects millions of users and is disproportionate to the alleged misuse by a small number of individuals. The company has also questioned the legality and procedure followed while imposing the restriction.

During the proceedings, the Centre defended its decision, maintaining that the measure was necessary to protect the integrity of the high-stakes medical entrance examination. Government representatives argued that Telegram had been used to spread leaked exam material, misinformation and fraudulent claims linked to the examination process.

The court sought the Centre’s response and scheduled further consideration of the matter. Until a final decision is reached, the temporary restriction remains in effect.

The dispute comes amid heightened scrutiny of examination security following the cancellation of the original NEET-UG 2026 exam and the decision to conduct a re-examination for affected candidates.

Indian equity benchmarks came under pressure on Friday as a sharp decline in information technology stocks erased a portion of the gains made during the recent market rally. Weak guidance from global technology services giant Accenture triggered concerns about demand trends in the IT sector, leading to broad-based selling across major Indian technology companies.

The benchmark Sensex and Nifty opened lower, while the Nifty IT index emerged as the worst-performing sectoral gauge of the day. Shares of major IT firms, including TCS, Infosys, Wipro and HCLTech, witnessed steep declines as investors reacted to concerns over slowing technology spending and limited visibility on future demand.

Accenture guidance rattles investor confidence

Market sentiment weakened after Accenture reported quarterly results and revised its revenue outlook, citing softer demand conditions. The development raised concerns about the broader global technology services industry, particularly for Indian IT companies that derive a significant portion of their revenue from overseas clients.

Analysts noted that Accenture’s cautious commentary added to existing worries about discretionary technology spending and delayed client decision-making. The company’s outlook is often viewed as an indicator of global demand trends for IT services.

Nifty IT sees sharp decline

The Nifty IT index dropped more than 5%, with all constituent stocks trading in negative territory. TCS, Infosys, Wipro and HCLTech were among the major laggards, falling between roughly 3% and 8% during trading.

The weakness in technology shares also weighed on broader market sentiment, ending the momentum seen in recent sessions. Investors turned cautious amid concerns about global growth, technology spending trends and earnings visibility for export-focused IT companies.

Broader market under pressure

Apart from the IT selloff, analysts pointed to profit-booking after the recent rally, weaker global cues and risk aversion among investors as additional factors behind the market decline. Mid-cap and small-cap indices also traded lower, reflecting broader weakness across sectors.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday extended birthday greetings to Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on the occasion of his 56th birthday.

In a post on X, PM Modi conveyed his wishes for Rahul Gandhi’s well-being and longevity. He described the Congress MP as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and prayed for his good health and a long life.

Rahul Gandhi, one of the senior-most leaders of the Congress party, celebrated his 56th birthday on June 19. He currently serves as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

The Prime Minister’s message was noted as a gesture of courtesy between leaders from rival political parties, who frequently engage in sharp political debates on national issues.