Rahul Gandhi targets Centre over CUET glitch, says 'not a single exam conducted honestly'

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday intensified his attack on the Narendra Modi government over the conduct of major national examinations, citing the latest disruption in the Common University Entrance Test (CUET-UG) and alleging that the country's education system has been severely undermined.

His remarks came after the National Testing Agency (NTA) acknowledged that a technical glitch at its technology partner, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), delayed the commencement of CUET-UG 2026 examinations at several centres across the country on Saturday. While the NTA said the issue was resolved and candidates were granted full compensatory time, reports from multiple cities indicated that thousands of students were left waiting for hours before their examinations could begin.

In a post on X, Gandhi clubbed together four major examinations NEET, CBSE, SSC and CUET, to accuse the government of failing students.


Also Read: NEET paper leak: CBI, government officials apprise Par panel of steps taken to prevent leakage in June 21 retest

"NEET. CBSE. SSC. And today CUET. Four exams. One crore children. Not a single one conducted with honesty," Gandhi wrote.

Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he added: "Claims of 'world guru,' but can't conduct even one exam in the country — Modi ji has completely ruined the entire education system."


"The generation whose future you are destroying that same generation will hold you accountable," Gandhi said.

The CUET disruption triggered criticism from several opposition leaders. Former Delhi chief minister and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal questioned the government's examination management strategy, referring to the Centre's decision to use Air Force aircraft for transporting NEET question papers.

"Air Force ships will be used to prevent paper leaks in NEET. Will this stop paper leaks? How is our government talking like uneducated people?" he wrote on X.

AAP leader Atishi said the CUET delay reflected a pattern of recurring administrative failures.

"First NEET, then CBSE, now CUET. Today CUET has been delayed due to a 'technical issue'. Lakhs of students were to take the exam in all parts of India today and after waiting for hours, such notices have been put up outside all centres. Remarkable incompetence," she said.

Senior AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj also raised concerns about examination integrity, questioning whether students receiving question papers at different times could affect fairness. Party spokesperson Anurag Dhanda alleged that lakhs of students had been made to report early only to face lengthy delays due to technical problems.

The NTA expressed regret over the inconvenience caused to candidates and said revised schedules had been issued for affected sessions. The agency also launched helpline support for students and parents.

Also Read: NEET paper leak: SC stresses accountability; govt says PM personally supervising situation

The latest controversy adds to a series of examination-related disputes that have placed the government's testing and recruitment mechanisms under scrutiny. Last year, NEET-UG was hit by allegations of paper leaks and irregularities, triggering nationwide protests and legal challenges.

Introduced in 2022, CUET-UG serves as a common entrance examination for undergraduate admissions across central, state and participating universities and is among the largest entrance tests conducted in the country.