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Informist, Wednesday, Jun. 17, 2026

NEW DELHI – "The Indian education system is a rejection system, it is not a selection system... it is unfair, it is brutal," Indian National Congress leader Rahul Gandhi told a crowd of students in Kota, Rajasthan, Wednesday as he launched a campaign focusing on the education system and students' issues. Kota is known as a hub of coaching centres for various competitive examinations.

Gandhi said that in his interaction with youngsters at different times, when he asked about their future plans, almost all returned with just five career options--doctor, engineer, lawyer, civil servant, and defence forces. "Why is our education system giving our students only five options?" the leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha said. "The answer is money. Because it is through these five options that the system makes money."

He claimed that around 2.2 million medical aspirants spend around INR 1.3 trillion every year on coaching, hostels, and meals to prepare for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test. For reference, the government of India's annual budget for education is around INR 1.4 trillion, he said.

"Why is public-sector education system declining and why is private-sector education so expensive?" he asked as he shared data to show the odds that aspirants for each of the five career options face. "This education system puts children under pressure, gives them stress, suppresses their dreams. And this is not good for the country," he added.

Gandhi also interacted with a few students and their parents and listened to their problems. He urged the students to work together with him to ensure that no student feels so desperate as to want to end his or her life. Several aspirants have reportedly died by suicide after reports of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test question paper leak emerged.  End

Reported by Asim Khan

Edited by Rajeev Pai

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