NEW DELHI — A high-stakes confrontation over India’s beleaguered examination system has reached a critical juncture, as activist Gaurav Kumar enters the second week of a hunger strike outside the Ministry of Education, demanding sweeping reforms to curb rampant paper leaks that have derailed the futures of millions of students. Kumar’s protest, which has drawn both fervent support and urgent pleas for its end, has thrust the National Testing Agency (NTA) into the spotlight, exposing deep fractures in India’s competitive testing infrastructure and igniting a political firestorm over accountability, corruption, and the very credibility of the country’s education system.
What Happened
Kumar, a 34-year-old campaigner affiliated with the non-profit Right to Fair Testing, began his indefinite hunger strike on June 10 near the Ministry of Education’s headquarters in New Delhi. His demands are threefold: the resignation of senior NTA officials linked to the leaks, the implementation of “tamper-proof” security protocols for all competitive exams, and an independent judicial inquiry into the alleged collusion between exam administrators, coaching centers, and political operatives.
The protest follows a series of devastating leaks in 2026 involving two of India’s most prestigious entrance exams—the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for medical admissions and the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) for engineering colleges. Together, these exams determine the academic trajectories of over 2.5 million students annually, with success often seen as a gateway to stable careers and social mobility. The leaks, which first came to light in March, have forced multiple exam cancellations and rescheduling, leaving students in limbo and fueling widespread anger.
In a statement released on June 12, Kumar accused the NTA of “institutionalized negligence” and alleged that the leaks were not isolated incidents but the result of a “well-oiled racket” involving officials, coaching mafias, and political fixers. “This is not a failure of technology; it is a failure of morality,” he wrote. “The NTA has become a den of corruption, and the government is complicit in its silence.”
The NTA, however, has vehemently denied these claims. In a press release issued on June 11, the agency stated that it had implemented “multi-layered security protocols,” including biometric verification, encrypted question papers, and real-time surveillance, and attributed the leaks to “external breaches” rather than internal malfeasance. “The NTA is committed to ensuring the integrity of examinations,” the statement read. “Allegations of systemic corruption are baseless and intended to malign the institution.”
Why It Matters
The standoff between Kumar and the government is more than a clash over a single activist’s protest—it is a microcosm of India’s broader crisis of trust in its public institutions. The exam leak scandal has laid bare the vulnerabilities of a system that millions of students and families rely on for upward mobility, while also exposing the political and bureaucratic inertia that has allowed such leaks to persist for years.
1. A System Under Siege
The NEET and JEE leaks are not isolated incidents. Over the past decade, India has witnessed a surge in exam paper leaks across multiple states and examinations, from university entrance tests to recruitment exams for government jobs. A 2025 report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) found that between 2018 and 2024, at least 12 major competitive exams were compromised by leaks, affecting over 5 million candidates. The report criticized the NTA for its “reactive rather than proactive” approach to security, noting that the agency had failed to implement even basic safeguards like blockchain-based encryption or decentralized testing centers, which are standard in many other countries.
The human cost of these leaks is staggering. Students spend years preparing for these exams, often at the expense of their mental health and financial stability. The cancellation of exams due to leaks forces them to endure additional months of uncertainty, while those who can afford it turn to expensive coaching centers—many of which have been accused of selling leaked papers in the past. A 2026 survey by the Centre for Social Research found that 68% of NEET aspirants reported experiencing severe anxiety or depression due to the uncertainty surrounding the exam, with 1 in 5 considering dropping out of the process entirely.
2. Political Fallout and Public Outrage
The scandal has become a political flashpoint, with opposition parties seizing on the issue to criticize the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). On June 11, the Indian National Congress (INC) staged a walkout in Parliament, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and accusing the government of “gross negligence.” Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted, “The BJP has turned our education system into a playground for corruption. Millions of students are paying the price for their incompetence.”
The BJP, however, has sought to deflect blame. In a press conference on June 13, Pradhan acknowledged the “pain of the students” but pointed to similar leaks under previous governments, including the 2015 Vyapam scam in Madhya Pradesh, which involved the manipulation of recruitment exams and led to the deaths of over 40 people under mysterious circumstances. “This is not a party issue; it is a systemic issue,” Pradhan said. “We have taken strict action against those involved, including the arrest of 47 individuals across six states.”
Legal action has also intensified. On June 12, the Supreme Court of India directed the NTA to submit a detailed report on its security measures within two weeks, following a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by a group of students. The court expressed “grave concern” over the “recurring nature” of leaks and warned that “the credibility of the examination system is at stake.” The bench, led by Justice Surya Kant, also questioned why the NTA had not adopted adaptive testing models—where questions are generated dynamically to prevent leaks—despite recommendations from multiple expert committees.
3. The Human Cost of Kumar’s Protest
Kumar’s hunger strike has become a symbol of resistance for students and parents who feel abandoned by the system. His supporters, who have set up a makeshift camp near the protest site, have organized daily vigils, medical check-ups, and social media campaigns to amplify his demands. On June 14, a group of 500 students from Delhi University marched to the protest site in solidarity, holding placards that read, “We are not your lab rats” and “Justice for NEET-JEE victims.”
However, Kumar’s health has deteriorated rapidly. Dr. Anil Mehta, a senior advisor to the Ministry of Health, told reporters on June 14 that Kumar’s blood pressure and glucose levels had reached “critical lows,” and that prolonged fasting could lead to “irreversible organ damage.” Mehta urged Kumar to “pursue his demands through democratic channels,” a sentiment echoed by several civil society groups, including the People’s Education Forum, which acknowledged Kumar’s “legitimate grievances” but called on him to “prioritize his well-being.”
Kumar, however, has remained defiant. In a handwritten note shared with supporters on June 13, he wrote, “I will not break my fast until concrete steps are taken to end this corruption. The future of millions of students cannot be sacrificed for the sake of political expediency.”
Background and Context
To understand the significance of Kumar’s protest, it is essential to examine the historical and structural factors that have allowed exam leaks to become endemic in India.
1. The Rise of the Coaching Industry
India’s competitive exam ecosystem is dominated by a multi-billion-dollar coaching industry, which thrives on the anxiety of students and the perceived inadequacies of the formal education system. Cities like Kota in Rajasthan and Hyderabad in Telangana have become hubs for coaching centers, where students spend years preparing for exams like NEET and JEE. These centers often charge exorbitant fees—sometimes exceeding ₹1 million (approximately $12,000) per year—and operate in a regulatory gray area.
Critics argue that the coaching industry has a vested interest in maintaining the status quo, as leaks and cancellations drive more students to enroll in their programs. A 2025 investigation by The Indian Express found that several coaching centers in Kota had prior knowledge of leaked papers in past exams, with some even offering “guaranteed success” packages to students who paid extra. While no direct evidence has linked these centers to the 2026 leaks, the perception of collusion has fueled public distrust.
2. The NTA’s Centralized Model
The NTA, established in 2017 to streamline the conduct of competitive exams, was intended to reduce corruption and improve efficiency. However, its centralized model—where a single agency is responsible for designing, administering, and evaluating exams—has made it a prime target for leaks. Unlike countries like the United States or China, where exams are conducted by multiple agencies or decentralized to states, India’s system relies on a single point of failure.
Experts have long argued that this model is inherently vulnerable. Dr. Ravi Gupta, an education policy analyst at the Centre for Policy Research, told Herald Express, “The NTA’s reliance on a single, high-stakes testing window creates a lucrative black market for question papers. Decentralizing the process—by conducting exams in multiple phases or adopting adaptive testing—could significantly reduce these risks.” Gupta also pointed to the lack of transparency in the NTA’s operations, noting that the agency has resisted calls for third-party audits of its security protocols.
3. A History of Leaks and Scandals
The 2026 leaks are not the first to rock India’s examination system. Some of the most notorious scandals include:
– 2015 Vyapam Scam (Madhya Pradesh): A massive fraud involving the manipulation of recruitment exams for government jobs, leading to the deaths of over 40 people, including candidates, officials, and journalists investigating the case. The scandal implicated high-ranking politicians and led to the arrest of over 2,000 people.
– 2018 SSC CGL Leak: The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) exam, which recruits candidates for government jobs, was canceled after question papers were leaked online. The incident led to protests across the country, with students demanding a CBI inquiry.
– 2021 UGC-NET Leak: The University Grants Commission-National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET), which determines eligibility for university teaching positions, was compromised, forcing a re-examination for over 800,000 candidates.
Despite these repeated scandals, successive governments have failed to implement structural reforms. A 2024 report by the Law Commission of India recommended the creation of a dedicated anti-corruption body to oversee competitive exams, but the proposal has yet to be acted upon.
Competing Claims and Uncertainty
The exam leak scandal is mired in competing narratives, with stakeholders offering vastly different explanations for the crisis and its solutions.
1. The Government’s Defense
The BJP-led government has sought to portray the leaks as isolated incidents rather than a systemic failure. Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has repeatedly emphasized that the government has taken “strict action” against those involved, including the arrest of 47 individuals across six states. In a June 13 interview with NDTV, Pradhan stated, “We have zero tolerance for corruption. The NTA has already implemented 90
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Story synopsis gathered from: Google News India Politics — source.
