Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, on Friday, attacked the Centre in ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ rally in Dehradun over repeated examination paper leaks, alleging that the country’s education system has reached a point where leaked question papers are available at fixed prices and sophisticated technology is being used to manipulate recruitment and entrance examinations.
Event Context
Addressing the rally, Gandhi used a series of graphics to argue that paper leaks have become institutionalised and claimed honest students are paying the price for a system that favours a privileged few.
Showing a graphic titled “Paper Ka Rate”, Gandhi claimed examination papers are being sold like products with predetermined rates.
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The chart displayed during his address listed the alleged prices of leaked papers, including ₹40 lakh for NEET UG 2026, ₹15 lakh each for IIT-JEE 2021 and Uttarakhand Patwari 2025, ₹10 lakh for the Bihar Teacher Recruitment 2024 examination, and ₹25 lakh for the Odisha Police Sub-Inspector 2025 exam.
“High technology being used for paper leaks; if you have crores, you can select from a menu card of paper leaks,” Gandhi said.
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The opposition leader also counted four kinds of injustices that the students are facing, according to him. “There are four types of injustices that you are facing. The first is the cost of education… The second is that 4 out of 5 doors are closed. The third is that out of 150 students, only one boy or girl can succeed. And the final and most appalling injustice is the ‘paper leak’. The reality is that there isn’t just one path; there are two. Our discussion today focuses on this issue: the paper leak. How do paper leaks happen, who is responsible, and what could be the proposed solutions?…”
The Congress MP alleged that repeated examination leaks reflect the state of India’s education system.
“State of India’s education system is such that paper leaks have become norm,” Gandhi said.
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He also displayed another graphic titled “Paper Leak Epidemic”, which claimed that 7.5 crore students had been affected by 152 paper leak cases, while there had been no convictions.
Using another illustration labelled “System Par Kabza”, Gandhi alleged that the problem extends across the examination ecosystem.
The graphic depicted different layers of the system, naming the ministry, NTA (exam agencies), vendors, paper setters, translators, printers and transporters, and coaching centres and exam centres.
“1% uses system, follows path of paper leak and hurts 99% others who are honest, poor,” he added.
Demanding immediate relief for affected candidates, Gandhi said students who suffer because of paper leaks should receive protection and compensation.
“Students should be given protection; those suffering due to paper leaks must be compensated, immediate re-exam be held,” he said.
Calling for sweeping reforms, Gandhi said the current examination framework is centred around the government rather than students.
“Today’s exam system govt-centric; we want student-centric system, secured question banks, randomised question papers,” he said.
He also argued that India’s testing model has failed to keep pace with technological advancements.
“Current exam testing system is of 19th century, we must evolve a 21st century system,” Gandhi said.
Gandhi said tackling paper leaks should not become a political issue and called for all parties to work together. “There can be political consensus on ending paper leaks which everyone must implement,” he said.
