Congress launches 40-day campaign over exam paper leaks, demands Pradhan's exit
Synopsis
Congress has put examination integrity at the centre of a 40-day, 28-state campaign that culminates in a 'Chalo Delhi' march on 9 August. With 89 exams allegedly compromised over a decade and the NTA under fire, the party is betting that student anger over NEET and recruitment test cancellations can translate into sustained political pressure ahead of Parliament's monsoon session.
Key Takeaways
Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad announced a 40-day nationwide campaign on 25 June against alleged exam paper leaks and irregularities.
The campaign covers 28 states and 28 major cities , running until 9 August .
Congress has demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and a full overhaul of the examination system.
Gaikwad cited reports claiming nearly 89 examinations were affected by leaks over the past decade .
A Students' Yatra is planned for 1 August , followed by a 'Chalo Delhi' march and protest in New Delhi on 9 August .
State Youth Congress and NSUI will conduct awareness drives across colleges in Karnataka and beyond.
Indian National Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad on 25 June launched a 40-day nationwide campaign targeting alleged examination paper leaks and systemic irregularities in India's public testing framework, accusing the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government of failing millions of students. The campaign was announced at a press conference at the Institute of Agricultural Technology on Queens Road, Bengaluru.
Campaign Scope and Timeline
The initiative, running from 25 June to 9 August, will span 28 states and 28 major cities across the country. Congress workers, Youth Congress members, and National Students' Union of India (NSUI) volunteers will engage directly with students, distribute informational material, and collect feedback on grievances affecting the education sector.
The campaign follows public outreach by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on education concerns, including controversies surrounding competitive examinations such as NEET. Gaikwad framed the campaign as a response to what she described as a structural breakdown rather than isolated incidents.
Key Demands
Gaikwad outlined three central demands: the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, punitive action against officials allegedly responsible for examination malpractices, and a comprehensive overhaul of the examination pipeline — covering question paper preparation, printing, transportation, and the conduct of tests themselves.
'It is not the students who are failing; it is the Education Ministry and the NDA government that are failing. Due to their failures, lakhs of students are facing immense difficulties,' Gaikwad said.
Scale of Alleged Irregularities
Citing reports on examination malpractices, Gaikwad claimed that nearly 89 examinations had been affected by paper leaks over the past decade, leading to multiple re-examinations and cancellations. She also alleged that several recruitment examinations across states had been scrapped due to irregularities. The figures were attributed to reports cited by the Congress MP and have not been independently verified.
State Youth Congress President Manjunath Gowda said recurring leaks were causing severe mental distress to students and their families. He alleged that the National Testing Agency (NTA) was mired in controversy and criticised the Centre for a lack of accountability. Gowda added that an all-party, all-student-organisations consultation would be convened to build a broader movement against examination malpractices, with awareness drives planned across colleges and universities in Karnataka.
Planned Actions and March to Delhi
Gaikwad announced a Students' Yatra on 1 August, followed by a 'Chalo Delhi' march and a major protest in the national capital on 9 August. She said students' concerns would be formally raised before the Union Education Ministry and the Prime Minister, and taken to Parliament during the upcoming session.
The press conference was also attended by Congress Media and Communications Department Chairman Ramesh Babu, NSUI State Vice-President Jayendra Shahi, and Youth Congress Legal Cell President Sridhar Jadhav. With Parliament's monsoon session approaching, the Congress is positioning this campaign as a sustained political pressure exercise on the examination accountability question.
Point of View
A date with historical resonance, and dovetails with Parliament's monsoon session, maximising legislative amplification. But the party faces a credibility test of its own: several paper leak controversies have occurred under state governments, including some Congress-ruled ones, a contradiction the campaign has so far sidestepped. The demand for Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation is a headline ask, but the more substantive pressure point is the NTA's structural accountability — an institution that has faced criticism across party lines. Whether Congress can convert student grievance into durable political capital will depend on whether the 'Chalo Delhi' march draws genuine student participation or remains a party-mobilised exercise.
NationPress
25 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Congress 40-day campaign on exam paper leaks?
It is a nationwide campaign launched by Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad on 25 June, running until 9 August across 28 states and 28 major cities. The campaign aims to highlight alleged examination paper leaks and irregularities, engage students, and push for reforms in India's public examination system.
What are Congress's key demands from the government?
Congress has made three demands: the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, action against officials allegedly responsible for examination malpractices, and a comprehensive overhaul of the entire examination process — from question paper preparation and printing to transportation and test conduct.
How many exams have allegedly been affected by paper leaks?
Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad cited reports claiming that nearly 89 examinations were affected by paper leaks over the past decade, resulting in multiple re-examinations and cancellations. The figures are based on reports referenced by the Congress MP and have not been independently verified.
What protests are planned as part of the campaign?
A Students' Yatra is scheduled for 1 August, followed by a 'Chalo Delhi' march and a major protest rally in New Delhi on 9 August. Congress also plans to raise students' concerns before the Union Education Ministry and in Parliament during the upcoming monsoon session.
Why is the National Testing Agency (NTA) under scrutiny?
State Youth Congress President Manjunath Gowda alleged that the NTA is mired in controversy over recurring examination irregularities, which he said have caused severe mental stress to students and their families. The NTA has faced criticism over the conduct of NEET and other competitive examinations in recent months.
