NEW DELHI: India’s education system has once again become the centre of political debate after Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi launched a sharp attack on the Centre over recurring examination paper leaks. Addressing the issue amid the ongoing controversy surrounding alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, Gandhi claimed that India witnessed 152 paper leaks in the past decade, affecting millions of students, while alleging that not a single conviction had taken place in connection with those cases.
Rahul Gandhi Targets Government Over Examination System
Speaking on the issue, Rahul Gandhi alleged that the country’s education framework had become a “rigged system” where honest students were paying the price for repeated failures in conducting fair examinations. He argued that young aspirants preparing for competitive exams were losing confidence because of frequent paper leak incidents.
According to Gandhi, the repeated leaks have created uncertainty among students who invest years preparing for examinations in the hope of securing admissions or government jobs. He maintained that the issue goes beyond a single examination and reflects deeper structural problems within the country’s examination process.
Claims Of 152 Paper Leaks In Ten Years
Rahul Gandhi asserted that there had been 152 examination paper leaks during the last ten years, averaging more than one leak every month. He further claimed that nearly 7.5 crore students had been affected by these incidents.
Questioning the government’s handling of the matter, he alleged that despite the large number of reported cases, no one had been held accountable through convictions. According to him, the absence of legal consequences has encouraged recurring irregularities and weakened public faith in the examination system.
Questions Raised Over Student Protests
The Congress leader also referred to recent protests by students demanding action over alleged examination irregularities. He criticised the police action against protesters and said students should be heard rather than suppressed.
Gandhi expressed solidarity with the protesting students, stating that they were raising genuine concerns regarding transparency, fairness and accountability in competitive examinations. He argued that instead of facing police action, students deserved clear answers and meaningful reforms from the authorities.
Demand For Education Minister’s Removal
Escalating his criticism, Rahul Gandhi demanded the removal of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, holding him politically responsible for repeated controversies surrounding national examinations.
“The Education Minister should be held accountable,” Gandhi said while insisting that responsibility for repeated paper leak allegations cannot be ignored. He maintained that restoring students’ confidence would require visible accountability at the highest level.
Education Becomes Major Political Issue
The remarks come at a time when allegations surrounding examination irregularities have sparked nationwide discussions and student demonstrations. Competitive examinations such as NEET and other recruitment tests have remained under intense public scrutiny following allegations of leaks and procedural lapses.
The issue has also echoed inside Parliament, where Opposition parties have demanded discussions on examination reforms and accountability. The controversy has intensified political exchanges between the government and the Opposition, with both sides presenting contrasting narratives over the functioning of the examination system.
Focus On Transparency And Reform
Rahul Gandhi said restoring trust among students should be the government’s highest priority. He argued that young people dedicate years to preparing for competitive examinations and deserve a transparent, reliable and corruption-free system.
He maintained that repeated controversies have affected not only examination credibility but also the morale of students and their families. According to him, educational reforms must ensure that merit alone determines success.
The Congress leader reiterated that accountability, institutional reforms and stronger safeguards against paper leaks are necessary to prevent future irregularities.
Government Yet To Accept Allegations
While the Opposition has intensified its criticism, the government has maintained that it is committed to improving the examination process and strengthening safeguards against malpractice. The controversy continues to dominate national political discourse, with demands for reforms, transparency and accountability remaining at the forefront.
As the debate over examination integrity grows, the issue is expected to remain a significant political and public concern, particularly for millions of students preparing for competitive examinations across the country.
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