According to various media reports and statements made by Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, more than 80—and possibly close to 90—competitive examination papers have reportedly been leaked in India over the past decade. This year, the NEET paper leak controversy and alleged irregularities in the evaluation process of CBSE board examinations have triggered widespread anger among students and parents.
The NEET paper leak episode, tragically, was followed by reports of distressed students taking their own lives, intensifying public concern over the integrity of India’s examination system. The CBSE controversy was about alleged lapses in data privacy and digital management during the evaluation of class XII answer sheets.
The irregularities surrounding examinations that are closely linked to the future of millions of students appear to have eroded public confidence in educational governance. A nationwide CVoter survey suggests that trust in the government’s ability to ensure fair, transparent, and credible examinations has weakened significantly, particularly among Generation Z voters.
The survey revealed substantial anger among young respondents towards the government and the education system. When asked about their level of trust in the government and educational institutions, 60 per cent of respondents aged between 18 and 24 years said they did not trust them at all. Among voters aged between 25 and 34 years, the figure rose to 66 per cent.
Warning for government
The findings serve as a warning not only for the Narendra Modi government at the Centre but also for State governments that have faced controversies relating to examination leaks and recruitment irregularities. More than 70 per cent of the respondents believe that governance in the education sector has deteriorated over the past few years. The sentiment was particularly strong among younger voters: over 81 per cent of the respondents aged between 25 and 34 and nearly 78 per cent in the 18-24 age group said that educational governance had worsened.
The survey also found strong support for accountability at the highest levels. As many as 66 per cent of the respondents said that Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan should resign in light of the recent NEET and CBSE controversies. Among young respondents, support for this demand exceeded 75 per cent, reflecting the intensity of public anger over the state of educational administration.
Concern about the credibility of examinations emerged as another major finding. Across all age groups, 53 per cent of the respondents said they no longer had confidence in the credibility of these examinations. Among voters in the 18-24 age group, the figure rose to 61 per cent, while 59 per cent of respondents aged between 45 and 54—an age group that includes many parents of students appearing in these examinations—also felt that the examination system had lost credibility.
Political consequences
The survey findings suggest that these controversies may entail political consequences. According to data from the Election Commission of India, the 2024 Lok Sabha election had approximately 18 million voters in the 18-19 age group and nearly 197 million voters in the 20-29 one. Together, more than 210 million young voters accounted for roughly 21 per cent of India’s total electorate of nearly 980 million voters.
A demonstration by Youth Congress members over the CBSE marking system controversy, in Ranchi, on June 2, 2026. | Photo Credit: ANI
A similar proportion of young voters is expected to participate in the 2029 Lok Sabha election, making youth sentiment a potentially decisive electoral factor. The survey indicates that dissatisfaction within this demographic group could prove costly for incumbent governments. As many as 85 per cent of respondents aged between 18 and 24 and 79 per cent of those aged between 25 and 34 said that controversies related to examination management and educational governance are likely to influence their voting preferences in future elections.
Students affected by recent examination controversies have increasingly found support from Rahul Gandhi, who has repeatedly raised these issues inside and outside Parliament. Most recently, he met Jharkhand student Sarthak Siddhant, who had presented a report before a parliamentary committee alleging irregularities in CBSE’s online marking system and in the tendering process related to the board’s On-Screen Marking (OSM) mechanism.
The meeting took place shortly after Siddhant, a class XII CBSE student, briefed the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports regarding his concerns. Such interventions have helped Gandhi position himself as a prominent voice on issues affecting students and young voters.
The political benefits of raising these issues may already be visible in public opinion data. According to CVoter tracking data, Rahul Gandhi’s approval ratings have shown consistent improvement over the past two years. While only 12 per cent of the respondents in February 2024 said they would like to see him as the next Prime Minister, that figure had risen to 27 per cent by February 2026.
Rahul gains popularity, Modi holds on to lead
However, despite Gandhi’s rising popularity and his aggressive campaign on issues such as examination irregularities, the BJP continues to draw comfort from Modi’s enduring popularity. According to the same tracking data, Modi’s approval rating remains at 55 per cent—more than double that of Rahul Gandhi.
The contrast highlights an evolving political landscape: while Rahul Gandhi appears to be gaining traction among sections of young and dissatisfied voters, Modi continues to enjoy a nationwide advantage.
As controversies surrounding educational governance continue to resonate across the country, the response of Gen Z and young voters may become one of the most closely watched factors in upcoming electoral contests. Whether growing youth discontent will translate into electoral change remains an open question, but the survey suggests that education-related issues are emerging as an increasingly important political battleground.
Khalid Akhter is a journalist with nearly two decades of experience. Specialising in data journalism, he currently serves as an output editor at CVoter News Services.
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