New Delhi: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has called for a complete overhaul of India’s education system, saying repeated examination paper leaks have caused immense hardship for students and their families. The Congress leader said the existing system must be “rebuilt from scratch” to create a safer, student-centric environment that prioritises fairness and transparency.

Rahul’s remarks came after he shared a video from the ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ rally held in Dehradun on Friday, where he met the father of a student who allegedly died by suicide following the cancellation of the NEET-UG examination amid allegations of a paper leak.

Rahul recalls meeting grieving father

In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi spoke about his interaction with Rajesh Kumar, the father of Riya Kumari, who reportedly died after the cancellation of the NEET-UG examination in May.

He said the grief of the bereaved father deeply moved everyone present.

“Riya’s father, Rajesh ji, was so shattered by the loss of his daughter that it brought tears to the eyes of everyone who saw him. This is not the pain of just one family; the paper leak has snatched children away from many such families,” Rahul wrote.

He added that behind every affected student is a family whose future has been devastated.

“Behind every name, there is a mother and a father, for whom there is no longer a tomorrow. This system must be rebuilt from scratch — creating an environment where children find safety instead of stress, and where parents reap the rewards of their sacrifices, not tears,” he said.

Calls for student-centric examination system

Addressing the ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ rally in Dehradun, Rahul Gandhi alleged that examination paper leaks have become a systemic problem affecting millions of students across the country.

He claimed nearly 7.5 crore students have been impacted by paper leaks over the past decade.

According to Rahul, the existing examination model is heavily focused on testing and administrative processes rather than students’ needs.

He proposed replacing the current framework with a more flexible, student-centric system.

“The testing system should be for the students and it must be flexible,” he said.

Rahul also suggested introducing a secure digital question bank and using technology to generate randomised question papers, similar to international examinations such as the GMAT.

According to him, such technology-driven measures could significantly reduce the risk of question paper leaks.

Alleges systemic failures

The Congress leader alleged that multiple stakeholders within the examination ecosystem contribute to the recurring problem.

He claimed that coaching centres, examination centres, paper setters, translators, transporters, vendors, the National Testing Agency (NTA) and even the Education Ministry form part of a system that requires urgent reform.

Rahul also alleged that despite the increasing number of paper leak cases, there have been no convictions against those responsible.

He further claimed that advanced technology is increasingly being used to facilitate examination fraud and alleged that 152 paper leak incidents have occurred over the past decade without successful prosecution.

Educational institutions should remain independent

Rahul Gandhi also argued that educational institutions should function independently of political influence.

He said no political party or organisation should control educational institutions, emphasising the importance of preserving academic autonomy.

The Congress MP called for political consensus across party lines to address examination irregularities, describing the issue as one affecting the future of millions of students rather than a matter of political rivalry.

‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ campaign

Rahul Gandhi launched the nationwide ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ campaign from Kota, Rajasthan, on June 17.

The initiative aims to highlight concerns related to examination irregularities, paper leaks and the broader challenges faced by students preparing for competitive examinations.

During the Dehradun programme, Rajesh Kumar reportedly urged Rahul Gandhi to raise his daughter’s case in Parliament so that no other family would have to suffer a similar tragedy.

Conclusion

Rahul Gandhi’s latest remarks have once again brought the issue of examination paper leaks into national focus. Calling for a complete restructuring of India’s education system, he advocated a student-centric examination model supported by technology, stronger safeguards and political consensus. The issue is expected to remain a key subject of debate as concerns over the integrity of competitive examinations continue to grow.