Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi Calls for Education System Reforms at Kota Convention

Kota, June 17, 2026: Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Wednesday called for a comprehensive rebuilding of India's education system, stating that it imposes undue pressure on students, causes stress, and places a heavy financial burden on families.

Addressing a students' convention titled "Chhatron Ki Goonj" (Students' Voice) at Dussehra Maidan in Kota, Rajasthan, Mr. Gandhi launched a nationwide education campaign. Kota is a major hub for private coaching institutes that prepare lakhs of students each year for competitive examinations like NEET and JEE, often under intense academic and emotional strain.

Mr. Gandhi interacted with a large gathering of young people, including aspirants for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and Joint Entrance Examination (JEE). He emphasised that the event was not a political meeting but an opportunity to engage with students facing challenges in their pursuit of higher education and employment. The campaign carried the catchphrase "Seal the Leaks", referencing concerns over examination irregularities.

"The biggest weakness of India's education system is that it does not nurture the dreams of our children. It does not respect the options and aspirations they truly want to pursue," Mr. Gandhi said. He added that while public sector education has declined, private education has become expensive, creating immense burden on parents. He claimed that families spend an amount three times the central government's education budget on just the top five competitive exams.

During the programme, five students were invited on stage for an interactive session. Mr. Gandhi discussed their preparation strategies, future plans, and the expenditures involved in coaching. One family also shared their struggles to afford coaching for their daughter.

The Congress leader described the current examination system for jobs and professional courses as a "rejection system" rather than a selection process, noting that only a tiny fraction of lakhs of applicants are selected. He argued that this leads to financial ruin, emotional distress, and in extreme cases, suicides among students.

Referring to five major competitive exams — UPSC, SSC, RRB, JEE, and NEET — Mr. Gandhi claimed that they drain the energy and financial resources of middle-class families. He characterised the education system as an "extortion machine" that extracts money from parents.

Mr. Gandhi further stated that the government's claim of providing employment after education was false. He cited that out of every 1,000 youths, only 12 secure formal, salaried jobs, while 297 remain unemployed and 691 are forced into informal and insecure work. He advocated for a system that allows youth to pursue ambitious goals at minimal cost.

This event marked the first leg of a national education campaign. Similar conventions are planned in Allahabad, Patna, and Delhi. The campaign will see active participation from Congress-affiliated organisations including the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) and Youth Congress.

The convention comes amid ongoing public debate over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations like NEET and concerns over rising youth unemployment. Mr. Gandhi's campaign focuses on demanding accountability and systemic reforms in the education sector.