Modi calls medical exam leak a 'grave sin,' vows crackdown

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has condemned the leak of national medical entrance exam papers as a "grave sin," vowing strict punishment and promising that no one will be allowed to tamper with the future of young people. This marks Modi's first direct statement on the scandal, which is considered the biggest political challenge for his new government.

The controversy surrounds the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG), a crucial exam for undergraduate medical courses in India, which saw over 2 million students appear this year. Allegations of collusion among insiders, brokers, and coaching centers to leak exam papers have ignited widespread anger. The situation has been further exacerbated by claims of scoring errors in the re-examination, which was ordered after the initial leak, and the reported suicides of 12 students in connection with the exam irregularities.

Protests, led by the Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP), a youth-led civil movement, have been escalating. Following demonstrations on June 11 and July 6, a large-scale protest occurred on July 20, where thousands marched toward Parliament. The protests have seen clashes with police, with reports of injuries on both sides. The demonstrators are demanding the resignation of the Education Minister, reforms at the National Testing Agency, and compensation for the families of students who allegedly died by suicide.

Sonam Wangchuk, an education and environmental activist who inspired the movie "3 Idiots," has joined the CJP's protest, undertaking a 21-day hunger strike. Political figures, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi of the Congress party, have also voiced their support and participated in protests, with some briefly detained by police. Reuters noted that the protests and the rise of the CJP reflect growing frustration among Indian youth over distrust in the education system and a lack of quality jobs, with the youth unemployment rate standing at 9.9% nationally and 13.6% in urban areas.