Rahul Gandhi Raises Alarm Over Exam Paper Leaks, Claims NEET Question Papers Were Sold for Lakhs
Dehradun, July 18: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi launched a strong attack on the Centre over repeated examination paper leaks, alleging that India’s education system has reached a stage where leaked question papers are being traded like products with fixed prices.
Addressing the ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ rally in Dehradun on Friday, the Congress leader claimed that sophisticated technology and organised networks are being used to compromise competitive examinations, leaving millions of honest students at a disadvantage.
During his speech, Gandhi displayed a graphic titled “Paper Ka Rate”, which he claimed showed the alleged prices at which leaked examination papers were being sold. The chart mentioned figures 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 exam and ₹25 lakh for the Odisha Police Sub-Inspector 2025 examination.
Gandhi alleged that paper leaks have become a widespread problem rather than isolated incidents. He said students who work hard for years are suffering because of a system that, according to him, benefits a small group with access to illegal networks.
“High technology is being used for paper leaks. If someone has money, they can choose from a menu of leaked papers,” Gandhi said while addressing the gathering.
Rahul Gandhi Lists Challenges Faced by Students
The Congress MP highlighted what he described as four major injustices faced by students.
He said the first challenge was the increasing cost of education, followed by limited opportunities for young people. He claimed that only a small percentage of students are able to succeed due to intense competition, while the issue of paper leaks has become one of the biggest concerns affecting the education system.
Gandhi questioned how examination leaks occur, who is responsible for them and what steps should be taken to prevent such incidents in the future.
Claims of a Widespread Paper Leak Problem
Gandhi also presented another graphic titled “Paper Leak Epidemic”, claiming that around 7.5 crore students have been affected by 152 reported paper leak cases, while there have been no convictions in these cases.
He further alleged that the entire examination process has been affected, showing a diagram that included various stages such as ministries, examination agencies, vendors, paper setters, translators, printers, transport systems, coaching centres and examination centres.
According to Gandhi, a small number of people misuse weaknesses in the system and impact the future of millions of deserving students.
Demand for Compensation and Exam Reforms
The Congress leader demanded immediate support for students affected by paper leaks. He called for protection and compensation for candidates who lose opportunities because of cancelled examinations or leaked papers.
He also demanded that fresh examinations should be conducted wherever necessary to ensure fairness for students.
Calling for major reforms, Gandhi said the current examination system needs to become more student-focused. He suggested measures such as secure question banks, randomised question papers and stronger technology-based monitoring systems.
“The current examination system belongs to the 19th century. India needs a 21st-century system that protects students and ensures transparency,” he said.
Appeal for Political Consensus
Gandhi said the issue of paper leaks should not become a political battle and urged all parties to work together to find a solution.
He said ensuring a fair examination system is a national priority and that political differences should not come in the way of protecting students’ futures.
The remarks come amid continued debates over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, including NEET, and growing concerns among students demanding transparency and accountability in the education system.
News source: Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets
