From NEET paper leak to CBSE row: Rahul Gandhi calls Education Ministry a 'disaster'

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Sunday accused the Centre of failing students across age groups, linking the NEET-UG paper leak, CBSE assessment concerns and the new Class 9 language policy. His remarks come amid the expanding NEET probe and growing scrutiny over the education system.

In Short

• Rahul Gandhi accuses Education Ministry of failing all student age groups
• NEET-UG paper leak affected over 22 lakh medical aspirants
• CBSE Class 12 low marks raise college eligibility concerns

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Sunday criticised the Centre over a series of education-related controversies. He accused the Education Ministry of “failing every single age group” of students.

In a strongly-worded post on X, Gandhi linked the NEET-UG paper leak crisis, concerns over CBSE Class 12 assessment outcomes, and the rollout of a new language requirement for Class 9 students, arguing that repeated disruptions have pushed lakhs of students into uncertainty.

RAHUL GANDHI FLAGS ‘THREE FAILURES, THREE AGE GROUPS’

Referring to the NEET-UG controversy, Gandhi said the paper leak affected more than 22 lakh medical aspirants.

He then pointed to allegations surrounding unexpectedly low marks among some CBSE Class 12 students under the OSM evaluation process, claiming several students risked losing college eligibility.

He further criticised the reported implementation of a new language requirement for CBSE Class 9 students from July 1, alleging that schools lack teachers and textbooks and that transitional arrangements involve distributing Class 6 materials to older students.

“Three exams. Three age groups. One Minister,” Gandhi wrote, directly targeting the Education Ministry.

He alleged that the Education Ministry had become “a department of disasters” and called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to apologise to students affected by the developments.

NEET PAPER LEAK PUTS EDUCATION SYSTEM UNDER SPOTLIGHT

The remarks come amid the NEET-UG 2026 controversy, which has emerged as one of the biggest crises in India’s education sector in recent years.

The Centre acknowledged a breach in the examination process after the May 3 NEET-UG exam was hit by a confirmed paper leak, affecting over 22 lakh candidates across the country. Following the incident, the National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelled the exam and announced a re-test on June 21.

Meanwhile, the CBI probe into the matter has widened, leading to multiple arrests and investigations into alleged coaching networks and exam-related links.

The controversy has sparked nationwide protests and renewed demands for reforms and accountability, while also raising concerns over the credibility and security of one of India’s largest entrance examinations.

The government has additionally announced plans to shift NEET to a computer-based format from 2027 as part of broader reforms.

PRESSURE BUILDS ON EDUCATION MINISTRY

The latest remarks add to mounting criticism faced by the Education Ministry over repeated disruptions affecting students across academic levels.

Opposition parties have increasingly framed the controversies not as isolated incidents but as signs of deeper institutional failures in exam management, assessment systems and policy execution.

The Centre, meanwhile, has defended its response to the NEET crisis, stressing that corrective action was taken quickly and investigations are underway.

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