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'₹40 lakh for a NEET UG question paper': Rahul Gandhi shares 'paper ka rate', claims high tech used in leaks

From Hindustan Times · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • Rahul Gandhi alleged that India's education system is compromised by institutionalized examination paper leaks, with papers sold at fixed prices.
  • He claimed sophisticated technology is used to manipulate recruitment and entrance exams, citing specific alleged prices for leaked papers like NEET UG.
  • Gandhi asserted that honest students are disadvantaged by a system that favors a privileged few, highlighting "paper leaks" as a major injustice.

Lok Sabha Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi has strongly criticized the Centre over repeated examination paper leaks, alleging that India's education system has become so compromised that leaked question papers are now available at fixed prices, facilitated by sophisticated technology.

Paper ka rate

— Rahul GandhiIntroducing a graphic alleging fixed prices for leaked examination papers.

Addressing a rally in Dehradun, Gandhi presented graphics illustrating what he termed the "Paper Ka Rate," claiming examination papers are sold like commodities with predetermined costs. He cited specific alleged prices, including ₹40 lakh for the NEET UG 2026 exam, ₹15 lakh each for IIT-JEE 2021 and Uttarakhand Patwari 2025, ₹10 lakh for the Bihar Teacher Recruitment 2024 examination, and ₹25 lakh for the Odisha Police Sub-Inspector 2025 exam.

High technology being used for paper leaks; if you have crores, you can select from a menu card of paper leaks.

— Rahul GandhiDescribing the alleged sophistication and accessibility of paper leaks.

Gandhi argued that these leaks are not isolated incidents but have become institutionalized, creating an uneven playing field where honest students bear the brunt. He outlined four major injustices faced by students: the high cost of education, limited opportunities, low success rates, and the pervasive issue of paper leaks. "The reality is that there isn't just one path; there are two," he stated, emphasizing the disparity created by leaked papers.

There are four types of injustices that you are facing. The first is the cost of education... The second is that 4 out of 5 doors are closed. The third is that out of 150 students, only one boy or girl can succeed. And the final and most appalling injustice is the 'paper leak'.

— Rahul GandhiListing the grievances faced by students in the Indian education system.

Further illustrating his point, Gandhi displayed graphics titled "Paper Leak Epidemic" and "System Par Kabza." The former claimed 7.5 crore students were affected by 152 paper leak cases with no convictions, while the latter depicted various layers of the examination ecosystem, ministry, NTA, vendors, paper setters, printers, and coaching centers, alleging that the "entire system is captured" by a select few who exploit it for personal gain.

State of India's education system is such that paper leaks have become norm.

— Rahul GandhiCharacterizing the prevalence of paper leaks in India.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hindustan Times in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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