The ban on Telegram use by the Government of India was claimed to curb the sharing of leaked government entrance exams for the selection of candidates, which has happened many times before.

So the problem is a fundamental one, as this kind of leak happens in other areas of exams also many times. Growing up, over 40 years ago, our SSLC 10th grade exam leak made its way to me when my friends came home and handed over the question paper.

So this pervasive problem cannot be curbed by simply banning Telegram. Then what about other apps, phone calls, phone texts, etc.?

The reason these leaks happen is lack of fear, pervasiveness, monetary greed, and government bureaucracy. In the US, tests like these are administered by commercial enterprises which will lose their license and business and go to jail even if it happens once. What will happen to a government employee who buys his employment through cronyism?

Without a fundamental cultural change, for a hypothetical argument’s sake, banning electricity if someone abuses it, or banning phones when terrorists use them, these types of approaches are ineffective and misdirected.

Privatization of government services is one direct approach, whether it’s employee selection, football, or many other such things suffering from malaise.