Rahul is fear-mongering, 'tukde tukde' forces at Jantar Mantar: Pradhan on NEET
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said NEET is likely to become a computer-based test from next year as the government works to prevent paper leaks and strengthen exam security. He also said efforts are underway to dismantle the paper mafia and ensure students face fewer disruptions during examinations.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has accused Rahul Gandhi of playing politics with students' futures while unveiling sweeping reforms planned for NEET in the wake of the paper leak controversy.
In an exclusive interview with India Today TV, Pradhan said NEET is likely to move to a computer-based format from next year, promised a crackdown on the "paper mafia", and accused the Congress leader of creating unnecessary fear among students for political gain.
"Rahul Gandhi has every right to ask questions as Leader of Opposition. But he should not create unnecessary fear in the minds of students," Pradhan said.
The minister also spoke about exam reforms, student anxiety and ongoing protests. Referring to demonstrations at Jantar Mantar, Pradhan said, "Jo log desh ko tukde tukde karna chahte hain, wahi log aaj dapli baja rahe hain Jantar Mantar mein. Koi vidyaarthi hai kya?" (The same people who want to break the country into pieces are beating drums at Jantar Mantar today. Is there even a student there?)
The remarks came amid continuing protests by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a youth-led collective that has emerged as one of the most visible voices against paper leaks, examination irregularities and recruitment delays. The group has been staging a round-the-clock protest at Jantar Mantar, demanding accountability from the government and Pradhan's resignation.
'RAHUL GANDHI SHOULD APOLOGISE TO THE COUNTRY'
Pradhan reserved some of his strongest criticism for the controversy surrounding a Nagpur student whose examination centre was allotted in Abu Dhabi.
The minister claimed the student had personally selected Abu Dhabi through the examination portal and that the choice had been recorded multiple times. He said the National Testing Agency (NTA) later contacted the family and even offered the student an opportunity to appear for the examination from Nagpur.
Despite this, Pradhan said, Rahul Gandhi chose to publicly raise the issue.
"Even after all this was established, Rahul Gandhi posted a long message on the matter. If even a little morality and accountability remain in Rahul Gandhi, he should apologise before the country," he said.
Pradhan went further, alleging that Gandhi had been waiting for a controversy to emerge.
"He was sitting and waiting for something to go wrong in NEET so that he could start doing politics over it," he said.
The minister also criticised the Congress over a rally held in Karnataka on June 21, the day NEET candidates appeared for a re-test after disruptions at some examination centres.
"All limits were crossed when a political rally of his own party created disruption in Karnataka. Then some of their leaders made irresponsible remarks asking why students had not left earlier," he said.
"Did you not have the wisdom to hold the rally somewhere else? Was it absolutely necessary to hold it there?" Pradhan asked.
The minister also accused Gandhi of lacking faith in both institutions and young people.
"He does not trust the country's systems. He does not trust India's youth," he said.
"Had young people believed him even a little, such large numbers would not have appeared for NEET in an orderly manner," he added.
NEET MAY GO COMPUTER-BASED FROM NEXT YEAR
"Students did their duty. Parents did theirs. Teachers, invigilators, district administrations and security personnel did theirs. This year's NEET was a collective achievement," Pradhan said.
Away from the political exchanges, the interview also contained a major policy signal for lakhs of medical aspirants.
Pradhan said NEET is likely to be conducted as a computer-based test from next year and urged students to begin preparing for the transition.
"I want to tell students, parents and everyone associated with education that next year's NEET will likely be conducted as a computer-based test. Students should begin preparing for it now," he said.
The proposal follows recommendations made by the Radhakrishnan Committee, which was constituted after last year's paper leak controversy triggered nationwide outrage and renewed scrutiny of India's examination system.
Pradhan said discussions were also underway on whether the examination could be conducted in a more decentralised manner.
According to him, most large-scale examinations in the country are gradually moving towards computer-based formats and the government is preparing for the logistical challenges such a transition would entail.
CRACKDOWN ON THE PAPER MAFIA
The minister also addressed concerns about future paper leaks.
While stopping short of guaranteeing that leaks would never recur, Pradhan said the government was committed to strengthening the examination system and taking action against those responsible.
"We will handle this. We will take society along with us. We will guide students, parents and teachers. We will take legal action against those creating fear and ensure that the mafia cannot remain active in the system," he said.
"Our responsibility is to make examinations like NEET and UGC-NET as error-free as possible, and we are committed to that," he added.
Pradhan described exam integrity as a shared responsibility involving governments, institutions, families and society at large.
The comments come as investigative agencies continue to probe multiple examination-related irregularities over the past two years, including the NEET paper leak case that triggered a political storm and widespread protests across several states.
JANTAR MANTAR PROTESTS UNDER FIRE
Asked about protests over education issues at Jantar Mantar, Pradhan said everyone had a democratic right to protest but questioned the intent behind some demonstrations.
"The same people who want to break the country into pieces are beating drums at Jantar Mantar today. Is there even a student there?" he said.
"Some people gather there in the name of students. We have no objection. The Constitution gives them that right. But the country is also judging that," he said.
"You wanted to create fear among students. You wanted to create confusion among students. You have not succeeded in that. Students are not buying into what you are saying. They are sitting in their examination centres and focusing on their work," he said in reference to Rahul Gandhi's criticism and the protests at Jantar Mantar.
Pradhan added, "Ye to dehshatgardon ka B-team hai." (They are the B-team of extremists.)
He argued that attempts to create panic among students had failed because aspirants remained focused on their examinations.
PM MODI KEPT A CLOSE WATCH
Pradhan also rejected suggestions that Prime Minister Narendra Modi became involved only after the paper leak controversy erupted.
"The Prime Minister is concerned about every issue that affects the country. He fulfilled his responsibility," he said.
The minister credited students, parents, teachers, invigilators, district administrations and multiple government agencies for ensuring the smooth conduct of this year's examination.
For lakhs of NEET aspirants, the interview offered perhaps the clearest indication yet of how the government intends to reshape the examination system after the paper leak controversy.
The message from Pradhan was clear: tougher safeguards, a stronger crackdown on organised cheating networks, and a likely shift to computer-based testing from next year.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has accused Rahul Gandhi of playing politics with students' futures while unveiling sweeping reforms planned for NEET in the wake of the paper leak controversy.
In an exclusive interview with India Today TV, Pradhan said NEET is likely to move to a computer-based format from next year, promised a crackdown on the "paper mafia", and accused the Congress leader of creating unnecessary fear among students for political gain.
"Rahul Gandhi has every right to ask questions as Leader of Opposition. But he should not create unnecessary fear in the minds of students," Pradhan said.
The minister also spoke about exam reforms, student anxiety and ongoing protests. Referring to demonstrations at Jantar Mantar, Pradhan said, "Jo log desh ko tukde tukde karna chahte hain, wahi log aaj dapli baja rahe hain Jantar Mantar mein. Koi vidyaarthi hai kya?" (The same people who want to break the country into pieces are beating drums at Jantar Mantar today. Is there even a student there?)
The remarks came amid continuing protests by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a youth-led collective that has emerged as one of the most visible voices against paper leaks, examination irregularities and recruitment delays. The group has been staging a round-the-clock protest at Jantar Mantar, demanding accountability from the government and Pradhan's resignation.
'RAHUL GANDHI SHOULD APOLOGISE TO THE COUNTRY'
Pradhan reserved some of his strongest criticism for the controversy surrounding a Nagpur student whose examination centre was allotted in Abu Dhabi.
The minister claimed the student had personally selected Abu Dhabi through the examination portal and that the choice had been recorded multiple times. He said the National Testing Agency (NTA) later contacted the family and even offered the student an opportunity to appear for the examination from Nagpur.
Despite this, Pradhan said, Rahul Gandhi chose to publicly raise the issue.
"Even after all this was established, Rahul Gandhi posted a long message on the matter. If even a little morality and accountability remain in Rahul Gandhi, he should apologise before the country," he said.
Pradhan went further, alleging that Gandhi had been waiting for a controversy to emerge.
"He was sitting and waiting for something to go wrong in NEET so that he could start doing politics over it," he said.
The minister also criticised the Congress over a rally held in Karnataka on June 21, the day NEET candidates appeared for a re-test after disruptions at some examination centres.
"All limits were crossed when a political rally of his own party created disruption in Karnataka. Then some of their leaders made irresponsible remarks asking why students had not left earlier," he said.
"Did you not have the wisdom to hold the rally somewhere else? Was it absolutely necessary to hold it there?" Pradhan asked.
The minister also accused Gandhi of lacking faith in both institutions and young people.
"He does not trust the country's systems. He does not trust India's youth," he said.
"Had young people believed him even a little, such large numbers would not have appeared for NEET in an orderly manner," he added.
NEET MAY GO COMPUTER-BASED FROM NEXT YEAR
"Students did their duty. Parents did theirs. Teachers, invigilators, district administrations and security personnel did theirs. This year's NEET was a collective achievement," Pradhan said.
Away from the political exchanges, the interview also contained a major policy signal for lakhs of medical aspirants.
Pradhan said NEET is likely to be conducted as a computer-based test from next year and urged students to begin preparing for the transition.
"I want to tell students, parents and everyone associated with education that next year's NEET will likely be conducted as a computer-based test. Students should begin preparing for it now," he said.
The proposal follows recommendations made by the Radhakrishnan Committee, which was constituted after last year's paper leak controversy triggered nationwide outrage and renewed scrutiny of India's examination system.
Pradhan said discussions were also underway on whether the examination could be conducted in a more decentralised manner.
According to him, most large-scale examinations in the country are gradually moving towards computer-based formats and the government is preparing for the logistical challenges such a transition would entail.
CRACKDOWN ON THE PAPER MAFIA
The minister also addressed concerns about future paper leaks.
While stopping short of guaranteeing that leaks would never recur, Pradhan said the government was committed to strengthening the examination system and taking action against those responsible.
"We will handle this. We will take society along with us. We will guide students, parents and teachers. We will take legal action against those creating fear and ensure that the mafia cannot remain active in the system," he said.
"Our responsibility is to make examinations like NEET and UGC-NET as error-free as possible, and we are committed to that," he added.
Pradhan described exam integrity as a shared responsibility involving governments, institutions, families and society at large.
The comments come as investigative agencies continue to probe multiple examination-related irregularities over the past two years, including the NEET paper leak case that triggered a political storm and widespread protests across several states.
JANTAR MANTAR PROTESTS UNDER FIRE
Asked about protests over education issues at Jantar Mantar, Pradhan said everyone had a democratic right to protest but questioned the intent behind some demonstrations.
"The same people who want to break the country into pieces are beating drums at Jantar Mantar today. Is there even a student there?" he said.
"Some people gather there in the name of students. We have no objection. The Constitution gives them that right. But the country is also judging that," he said.
"You wanted to create fear among students. You wanted to create confusion among students. You have not succeeded in that. Students are not buying into what you are saying. They are sitting in their examination centres and focusing on their work," he said in reference to Rahul Gandhi's criticism and the protests at Jantar Mantar.
Pradhan added, "Ye to dehshatgardon ka B-team hai." (They are the B-team of extremists.)
He argued that attempts to create panic among students had failed because aspirants remained focused on their examinations.
PM MODI KEPT A CLOSE WATCH
Pradhan also rejected suggestions that Prime Minister Narendra Modi became involved only after the paper leak controversy erupted.
"The Prime Minister is concerned about every issue that affects the country. He fulfilled his responsibility," he said.
The minister credited students, parents, teachers, invigilators, district administrations and multiple government agencies for ensuring the smooth conduct of this year's examination.
For lakhs of NEET aspirants, the interview offered perhaps the clearest indication yet of how the government intends to reshape the examination system after the paper leak controversy.
The message from Pradhan was clear: tougher safeguards, a stronger crackdown on organised cheating networks, and a likely shift to computer-based testing from next year.
