Rahul Gandhi to Ignite Student Outreach Against Exam Scandals and Unemployment from Kota

The Indian National Congress on Saturday announced the commencement of a comprehensive nationwide campaign, led by Rahul Gandhi, aimed at galvanizing student and youth support against a backdrop of escalating concerns regarding examination malpractices and youth unemployment. The initiative is slated to kick off with a significant student convention in Kota, Rajasthan, on June 17.

This robust outreach program, described as the 'first phase' of a broader national movement, seeks to bring together students, job aspirants, youth organizations, and educators who have been adversely affected by examination-related controversies across the country.

Following the inaugural event in Kota, Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to lead subsequent conventions in other key cities: Allahabad on July 10, Patna on July 11, and the national capital, Delhi, on July 14. These conventions are designed to serve as direct forums for young people to share their experiences and collectively demand governmental accountability for what the Congress party terms as 'repeated examination failures and paper leak scandals.'

The core focus of the campaign will be multi-faceted, addressing issues such as alleged paper leaks, widespread examination irregularities, the alarming rates of youth unemployment, and the critical need for systemic reforms within the education sector. The Congress party has consistently highlighted these issues, with Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi having met with affected students and raised their concerns at various national forums.

Congress General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal, in a statement, underscored that the campaign is being launched under the guidance of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and aims to amplify the concerns of millions of students. Venugopal further detailed the extensive outreach strategy, which will involve both physical and digital invitations, active campus outreach, interactions at coaching centers, universities, schools, and youth hubs, robust social media campaigns, and live screenings of events.

Rahul Gandhi's conviction, as articulated by the party, is that the aspirations of young Indians must not be sacrificed due to corruption, incompetence, or political indifference. The movement aims to unite students irrespective of their political affiliations, providing a unified platform to demand transparency and justice.

Specific demands articulated by Rahul Gandhi, which will be reiterated through this campaign, include the decentralization of the NEET examination, the abolition of examination fees, stringent legal action against those involved in paper leak rackets, and accountability at the highest echelons of government. These demands come amid recent controversies, including concerns raised over cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the Central Board of Secondary Education's (CBSE) digital evaluation ecosystem and the cancellation of the NEET-UG 2026 examination, which has significantly impacted students' mental health.

The Congress party has been actively protesting against these irregularities. Earlier, on June 6, the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) and senior Congress leaders held demonstrations in Haryana against paper leaks, which were met with police response, including water cannons. Leaders like Deepender Singh Hooda and Digvijaya Singh have called for accountability and the resignation of officials, emphasizing the lack of clarity on investigations into previous paper leaks.

This nationwide agitation, decided upon during a high-level meeting of Congress leadership, including party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, will continue for the next two to three months, with protests planned at national, state, and district levels. Beyond paper leaks, the party will also highlight broader economic challenges facing the country, such as rising fuel prices and inflation, alongside youth unemployment. The comprehensive campaign reflects the Congress's intensified efforts to hold the government accountable on critical issues affecting the common citizen, particularly the youth.