At a session in New Delhi, Congress leader and opposition head in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, stated on Saturday that India's education system must be 'rebuilt from scratch' to create a safe, student-centric environment. He emphasized that repeated instances of exam paper leaks have caused irreparable harm to many families.
Sharing a video recording from the 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' rally in Dehradun, held on Friday, the Congress MP recalled his meeting with Rajesh Kumar, the father of Riya Kumari. Riya Kumari allegedly committed suicide after the NEET-UG exam was canceled in May amid allegations of material leakage.
In his post on X, Rahul wrote: 'Rajesh ji, Riya's father, was so broken by the loss of his daughter that it brought tears to everyone who saw him. This is not the pain of one family; the leak of papers has deprived many such families of their children.'
He added that the system must be completely rebuilt so that children feel safe instead of stressed, and parents receive recognition for their sacrifices, not tears.
Speaking at the 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' rally in Dehradun on Friday, the former Congress president asserted that exam paper leaks have become a systemic problem and called for political consensus to resolve it. He stated that approximately 75 million students have been affected by leaks over the last decade.
Gandhi blamed the entire educational ecosystem—from coaching centers and examination venues to setters, translators, transporters, suppliers, the National Testing Agency (NTA), and the Ministry of Education. He noted that despite the rise in corruption cases, no action against the culprits, including convictions, has been taken.
He also argued that the existing examination model is outdated and requires a complete update. Gandhi stressed that the current system is examiner-, government-, and testing-oriented, whereas what is needed is a flexible, student-centric system. He proposed implementing a secure question bank and randomized exam papers using technology, similar to what is done in GMAT and other tests.
Furthermore, Rahul insisted that educational institutions should not be subjected to political influence, asserting that no political party or organization should control them. He advocated for broader political consensus on preventing leaks, viewing it as a collective responsibility rather than a partisan dispute.
The Congress MP's statements on Saturday came a day after meeting Riya's father during the event in Dehradun, where the grieving parent urged him to raise the issue in Parliament to prevent similar tragedies for other families. The Congress leader launched the nationwide 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' campaign from Kota, Rajasthan, on June 17 to draw attention to exam malpractice issues and the difficulties faced by students. During the program in Dehradun, he also stated that advanced technologies are being used to facilitate leaks, and that 152 such incidents have occurred over the last decade without any convictions.
During the 'Voice of Students' event held in Dehradun on Friday, Rahul Gandhi sharply criticized the central government, raising issues concerning youth, employment, government jobs, exam leaks, and the education system.
He asserted that the entire country's educational system is in crisis due to the leakage of examination materials, affecting 75 million students so far. Gandhi emphasized that this event is dedicated to discussing the problems and struggles of the youth, not being a political show. He stated that the main issue in India currently is the future of its children and youth.
According to Rahul, only 1 percent of people use money and connections to organize leaks, while the future of 99 percent of honest and poor students is at risk. He claimed that the level of leaks has reached such a point that there are 'menu cards' for various exams. He cited an example where, with millions of rupees, one can choose a desired exam from the menu card, which, in his words, reflects the current state of education in India.
The Congress leader noted that despite the constant occurrence of leak incidents, none of the culprits have received severe punishment yet. He reported that 75 million candidates have been affected by 152 leak incidents, yet no one has been found guilty or punished. Furthermore, he insisted that institutions like the National Testing Agency (NTA) and universities must be free from political influence and operate independently of any political party.
Rahul Gandhi also stated that four main avenues for youth employment in India are practically closed. He attributed this to the weakening of the manufacturing sector, difficulties in obtaining bank loans for entrepreneurship, the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the IT sector, and the growth of privatization in the public sector. In his assessment, government service remains the most significant option for the youth. However, he noted that while about 90 million young people prepare for government service, only about 600,000 find employment.
During the program, the father of NEET candidate Riya Tapa, who recently allegedly committed suicide, appeared on stage. He emotionally appealed to Rahul Gandhi to seek justice, noting that the government had shown no interest in his family's affairs. The father shared that his daughter was extremely dissatisfied with the system and the NTA. Speaking with students, Rahul Gandhi stated that millions of young people preparing for competitive exams face financial, psychological, and social pressure, and these issues must be resolved.
The scientist, nicknamed the 'Man of the Moon' for his participation in India's space missions, has been appointed as the head of the committee tasked with reviewing the school curriculum in the state of Tamil Nadu.
Dr. Mylswamy Annadurai's journey began in the village of Kotavadi, located near Coimbatore. His father earned only 120 rupees per month as a primary school teacher, which made him realize the value of every resource early on.
As a leader in his district at school, and later at college, his curiosity constantly grew. This same determination eventually led him from a village classroom to ISRO in 1982.
As the director of the Chandrayaan-1 mission, he played a key role in making history in 2008. This mission subsequently confirmed the presence of water molecules on the Moon, which was one of India's largest contributions to modern space science.
His leadership also contributed to the success of the Mangalyaan mission. In 2014, India became the first Asian nation to reach Mars and the first country to do so on its maiden launch.
Serving as the director of the ISRO Satellite Technology Centre, he helped create more advanced and lighter satellites. This resulted in cheaper launches, increased efficiency, and transformed India into a reliable satellite launch partner for the world.
After receiving the Padma Shri award in 2016, Dr. Annadurai's achievements were already included in the 10th-grade science textbook in Tamil Nadu. Now, he will be involved in shaping the curriculum itself, inspiring millions of young minds.
