Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi will launch a nationwide youth outreach campaign from Kota, Rajasthan, on 17 June, targeting issues such as paper leaks, examination irregularities, unemployment, and recruitment concerns that the party says are undermining the futures of millions of young Indians. The campaign marks Congress's most structured student-focused political mobilisation in recent years.

Campaign Schedule and Cities

All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal announced the first phase of the drive, confirming that Rahul Gandhi will address student conventions across multiple cities. After the Kota opener on 17 June, the campaign moves to Allahabad on 10 July, Patna on 11 July, and concludes the first phase in Delhi on 14 July.

Venugopal stated, 'Rahul Gandhi will address student conventions in various cities across the country. Beginning from Kota, he will engage directly with students and competitive exam aspirants.'

Why Kota Was Chosen

Kota was selected deliberately as the campaign's launch city — it is widely regarded as India's foremost coaching hub, home to hundreds of thousands of students preparing for competitive entrance examinations such as JEE and NEET. Kota District Congress President Rakhi Gautam and Kota Rural Congress President Bhanu Pratap Singh confirmed that the party chose the city to symbolise the scale of pressure faced by exam aspirants nationwide.

They noted that Rahul Gandhi had been invited to visit Kota during a recent conference held in Pushkar. An AICC team has already reached the city to inspect potential venues, and local Congress leaders have begun on-ground preparations.

What the Campaign Aims to Address

The Congress has alleged that recurring paper leaks, opaque recruitment processes, rising examination costs, and a lack of transparency in the education and recruitment system are jeopardising the futures of millions of young Indians. The campaign aims to mobilise students, job aspirants, teachers, and youth organisations while amplifying these concerns at the national level.

Under the leadership of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, the party framed the initiative as a direct challenge to what it describes as systemic failures in the Narendra Modi government's approach to education and employment.

Senior Leaders Back the Drive

Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot expressed support for the campaign on social media platform X, writing that Congress would launch a nationwide movement against the shortcomings of the Modi government's education system. 'Our fight for education, opportunities, and the future of India's youth will continue. The resistance continues,' Gehlot said.

This comes amid heightened national scrutiny of examination integrity following high-profile paper leak controversies that have disrupted major competitive exams in recent years. With the first rally set for 17 June in Kota, all eyes will be on the scale of student turnout and whether the campaign sustains momentum across its four-city first phase.