Rahul Gandhi to Launch Nationwide Campaign Against Exam Paper Leaks and Youth Unemployment from Kota

The Congress party on Saturday unveiled plans for a nationwide outreach campaign led by Rahul Gandhi, aimed at highlighting concerns related to examination paper leaks, recruitment irregularities, unemployment and what the party describes as the growing challenges faced by India’s youth under the current government.

The campaign is set to begin in Kota, Rajasthan, on June 17.

Announcing the initiative, Congress General Secretary (Organisation) K. C. Venugopal said Rahul Gandhi will spearhead a series of large-scale student conventions across the country.

The first phase of the campaign will include events in Kota on June 17, followed by programmes in Allahabad, Patna and Delhi in July.

According to Venugopal, Gandhi has consistently raised issues affecting students and young job aspirants and will use these gatherings to engage directly with students, competitive examination candidates, educators, youth organisations and individuals impacted by recurring examination controversies.

The Congress said the campaign seeks to draw attention to the difficulties faced by millions of young Indians whose academic and professional aspirations have been repeatedly disrupted by alleged paper leak incidents, rising examination-related expenses and shortcomings in the recruitment and education systems.

Party leaders believe these issues have created widespread uncertainty among students preparing for competitive examinations and government jobs, making the need for accountability and reform more urgent than ever.

To ensure extensive participation, the campaign will be supported by the party’s student and youth wings, including the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) and the Indian Youth Congress, along with Pradesh Congress Committees (PCCs), District Congress Committees (DCCs) and local organisational units.

The outreach programme will involve both physical and digital engagement strategies.

Activities will include campus visits, interactions at coaching institutes, universities, schools and youth centres, as well as social media campaigns, live broadcasts, direct student interactions and widespread invitation drives designed to maximise participation.

Venugopal said the initiative reflects Rahul Gandhi’s belief that the ambitions and prospects of India’s youth should not be undermined by corruption, administrative failures or political neglect.

He added that the movement aims to bring together students from diverse backgrounds and political viewpoints while creating a platform for those affected by examination controversies to voice their concerns and seek accountability.

The campaign will also promote several demands that Rahul Gandhi has raised previously.

These include decentralising the NEET examination process, eliminating examination fees, taking stringent legal action against individuals involved in paper leak networks and ensuring accountability at senior levels of government.

The party has also reiterated its demand for the resignation of the Union Education Minister over repeated examination-related controversies.

Kota has been chosen as the launch venue because of its importance as one of India’s largest coaching hubs. Every year, lakhs of students travel to the city to prepare for highly competitive entrance examinations such as JEE and NEET.

The issue has gained renewed attention following the recent detection of an alleged leak linked to the NEET examination in Sikar, another major coaching centre in Rajasthan.

The controversy surrounding the examination, which is now scheduled to be held on June 21, has affected more than 22 lakh students and their families across the country.

This will not be Rahul Gandhi’s first interaction with students in Kota.

During the Rajasthan leg of the Bharat Jodo Yatra in December 2022, he had engaged with students and discussed concerns related to education and employment.

The visit will also mark Gandhi’s second trip to Rajasthan this month. Earlier, on June 1, he visited Ajmer to participate in a Congress training camp organised for party workers.

Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot expressed support for the campaign, stating that students from across the country would be mobilised to participate in the movement.

He emphasised that the struggle for quality education, employment opportunities and a secure future for young Indians remains an important priority for the party.

With examination integrity and youth employment emerging as major public concerns, the Congress hopes the campaign will amplify student voices and place greater focus on reforms in the education and recruitment sectors.