' ₹40 lakh for a NEET UG question paper': Rahul Gandhi shares 'paper ka rate', claims high tech used in leaks

Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, accused the Indian government of systemic failures in its education system during a rally in Dehradun on Friday, citing repeated examination paper leaks and the alleged use of advanced technology to facilitate these breaches. Speaking at the "Chhatron Ki Goonj" event, Gandhi presented a series of graphics highlighting the purported commercialization of leaked exam questions, suggesting that such leaks have become institutionalized and are accessible through a structured pricing mechanism. During his speech, Gandhi displayed a graphic titled "Paper Ka Rate," which outlined the alleged costs associated with acquiring leaked question papers. According to the visual aid, the NEET UG 2026 question paper was reportedly priced at ₹40 lakh, while the IIT-JEE 2021 and Uttarakhand Patwari 2025 exams were each listed at ₹15 lakh. Other figures included ₹10 lakh for the Bihar Teacher Recruitment 2024 and ₹25 lakh for the Odisha Police Sub-Inspector 2025 exam. Gandhi stated that high-tech methods are being employed to enable these leaks, allowing individuals with substantial financial resources to choose from a range of available options. Gandhi identified four major injustices faced by students, emphasizing the rising cost of education, limited opportunities, low success rates, and the prevalence of paper leaks. He described the situation as particularly alarming, noting that the education system has deteriorated to a point where paper leaks have become normalized. His presentation included a graphic titled "Paper Leak Epidemic," which claimed that 7.5 crore students had been impacted by 152 documented cases of leaks, yet no convictions had been made in any of these instances. The Congress leader further detailed how the entire examination system appears compromised, using a graphic labeled "System Par Kabza." This visual representation highlighted multiple layers of the system, including the ministry, National Testing Agency (NTA), vendors, paper setters, translators, printers, transporters, coaching centers, and exam centers. Gandhi asserted that these interconnected components form a network where 1% of participants exploit the system, thereby harming the remaining 99%, who are honest and economically disadvantaged. In response to the ongoing issues, Gandhi called for immediate relief measures for students affected by the leaks. He urged authorities to provide protection and compensation to those harmed and to conduct fresh examinations promptly. Additionally, he advocated for comprehensive reforms aimed at creating a student-centered examination system. Gandhi criticized the existing framework for being overly focused on governmental interests rather than the needs of students, arguing that the current testing model is outdated and fails to incorporate modern technological advancements. Gandhi emphasized the need to transition from a 19th-century approach to a 21st-century system, advocating for secure question banks and randomized question papers to prevent future leaks. His remarks underscored the urgency of addressing the vulnerabilities within the educational infrastructure to ensure fairness and integrity in the evaluation process.