Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on 19 September 2026 launched a sharp attack on the Union government's education policies, examination integrity, and youth recruitment processes while addressing the 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' programme in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Declaring the event's theme as 'System versus Students', Gandhi argued that the state is systematically failing the very generation it should be empowering.

Education Budget Under Fire

Presenting data through slides, Gandhi alleged that the Union government's education spending has dropped from 4.6 per cent of the budget before 2014 to 2.6 per cent today. He claimed that ₹7.7 lakh crore earmarked for education had effectively been redirected to benefit billionaires rather than students. 'The entire education system is being rewound,' Gandhi said, contrasting the earlier era of institution-building — IITs, schools — with what he described as a reversal of that legacy.

He framed education not as a privilege but as a constitutional right, stating that the government's duty is to take a child 'from kindergarten and mid-day meals through school and college to employment.' Notably, India's gross enrolment ratio in higher education and public investment benchmarks have been debated extensively ahead of the next National Education Policy review cycle.

Exam Corruption and Broken Trust

Turning to the examination system, Gandhi alleged that corrupt officials leak question papers for financial gain, destroying the futures of lakhs of students. 'If corrupt individuals remain part of the examination process and the system itself becomes corrupt, the loss will be borne by the students,' he said. He acknowledged that some candidates too had erred, but maintained that the deeper crisis is one of institutional trust.

Students in the audience responded audibly — one group shouting, 'Sir, we have lost to the system.' The sentiment reflects wider anger following a series of high-profile examination irregularity controversies that have roiled competitive exam aspirants across India in recent years.

Recruitment Delays and Overage Candidates

An MBBS student in the audience alleged that for the past eight years, 13 per cent of posts in every recruitment process were kept on hold even after the preliminary, mains, and interview stages were completed. According to the student's account, approximately 4 lakh youth — including 87,000 direct candidates — have been affected, with the Union government repeatedly citing pending court cases to defer final appointments. Several candidates, the student noted, have crossed the upper age limit while still awaiting results.

Gandhi used the allegation to reinforce his broader argument: that the examination and recruitment machinery, as currently structured, disadvantages meritorious candidates and disproportionately harms young aspirants from non-privileged backgrounds.

Students vs 'Andhbhakts': Gandhi's Contrast

In one of the sharper rhetorical moments of the event, Gandhi distinguished between students — whom he characterised as curious, questioning, and intellectually honest — and what he called 'Andhbhakts' (blind followers), whom he described as living in insulated worlds, spreading hatred rather than love and displaying arrogance over humility. The contrast was aimed at defining a political and civic identity for the student community ahead of upcoming state-level electoral cycles.

The 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' Series

The Indore edition is the latest in an ongoing outreach series that has previously been held in Kota, Dehradun, and Pune — cities synonymous with coaching culture, competitive exam preparation, and student migration. The programme appears designed to build a direct connection between Congress and student communities in cities where exam anxiety and youth unemployment are felt most acutely. With Madhya Pradesh a key electoral battleground state, the choice of Indore as a venue carries unmistakable political weight.

Whether Gandhi's allegations on budget figures and recruitment delays translate into a sustained policy campaign or remain part of the opposition's rhetorical arsenal will become clearer as the series continues.