Congress flags ‘systemic’ exam failures, launches nationwide student outreach

Recurring examination irregularities are evidence of a massive institutional failure, senior Congress leader and president of the party’s Assam unit Gaurav Gogoi said on Thursday (June 25, 2026), announcing the launch of ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’, a 40-day nationwide campaign to highlight issues affecting students.

Mr. Gogoi said repeated instances of paper leaks and disruptions had created a perception among students that the problem was “systemic” rather than the fault of a few individuals. “The trust of India’s students has been broken. Who will take responsibility for so many broken dreams?” he said. The government has to be held accountable for the injustice done to students and the parents who are shouldering the financial burden, he added.

As part of the campaign, the Congress plans to engage with students and collect feedback on issues ranging from examination paper leaks and recruitment delays to broader concerns in the education sector.

According to NSUI leaders, the campaign was launched simultaneously at 28 locations across the country. It will involve outreach in educational institutions, town hall meetings, corner meetings, public dialogues and pamphlet distribution. Students affected by examinations such as NEET, JEE and SSC, as well as those facing issues related to school education, will be contacted during the campaign, they said. The organisation has also introduced a registration mechanism through a QR code and a missed-call facility to enable students to share grievances.

Institutional problems

Referring to recurring controversies surrounding examinations, Mr. Gogoi said many students believed the problems reflected deeper institutional shortcomings. “When it gets repeated every year, there is this belief among the student community that this cannot be the failure of one individual. This is the failure of an entire system,” he said.

He said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had also raised the issue during a recent interaction in Rajasthan’s Kota, describing it as a wider crisis affecting the education system.

“As a result, the youth of the country are not being able to move forward. If the youth cannot move forward, then the country will not be able to move forward either,” Mr. Gogoi said.

In first phase

Student leaders said the first phase of the campaign would continue till August 9. If their demands were not addressed, they would mobilise students from across the country for a “Delhi Chalo” programme and a protest in the national capital.