Meta Says Technical Glitch Led to Removal of PM’s Facebook Post
Social media giant says the post on government action against exam paper leaks was mistakenly taken down and later reinstated
New Delhi: Meta has clarified that the temporary removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Facebook video on examination paper leaks was caused by a technical issue, and the content has since been restored on the platform.
A Meta spokesperson said the video was taken down mistakenly due to an internal error and was later made available again for users. The clarification came after the post briefly became inaccessible on Facebook during the early hours of July 28.
The video, which was originally shared on July 23, featured Prime Minister Modi addressing concerns related to examination irregularities and assuring students that the government would take strict measures against those involved in paper leaks.
The address came during a period of nationwide student protests over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG 2026 examination process. It marked one of the Prime Minister’s key communications with young students amid growing demands for accountability and reforms in the examination system.
During his address, Modi said the government was committed to protecting the future of students and had directed authorities to establish Fast-Track Courts for dealing with examination related offences. He also announced that a draft law with stricter penalties and special judicial mechanisms would be considered by the Union Cabinet before being presented before Parliament.
The Prime Minister highlighted that steps had been taken to ensure that the academic progress of millions of students was not affected by the controversy. He assured students that safeguarding their interests and maintaining the credibility of competitive examinations remained a priority for the government.
The issue of examination paper leaks had triggered widespread protests, with students and opposition parties demanding stronger action against those responsible. The controversy also became a major political issue during the Monsoon Session of Parliament, leading to repeated disruptions as opposition leaders sought discussions on the matter.
Following the protests, the Centre moved forward with legislative measures aimed at strengthening safeguards against unfair practices in public examinations. The proposed amendments include stricter punishments, higher penalties and provisions for establishing dedicated courts to handle such cases.
The student agitation later concluded after discussions between the government and representatives of protesters. Authorities agreed on measures including reviewing cases filed against demonstrators and taking steps toward stronger legal action against examination related malpractice.
The brief disappearance of the Prime Minister’s video from Facebook attracted attention online, with questions raised about the reason behind its removal. Meta’s clarification, however, confirmed that the action was not intentional and resulted from a technical malfunction.
The incident highlights the increasing importance of social media platforms as major channels for political communication, with leaders and governments relying heavily on digital platforms to directly connect with citizens.
