NEET Protest – Congress Intensifies Attack on Dharmendra Pradhan Over Education Row
NEET Protest – The political confrontation over the NEET examination issue intensified on Wednesday as the Congress launched a fresh offensive against Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, accusing him of failing to address concerns surrounding the country’s education system. The opposition party alleged that the minister’s tenure has been marked by repeated controversies, administrative shortcomings, and a lack of accountability. The criticism came a day after Pradhan defended the government’s approach to the NEET issue and accused the Congress of politicising student concerns.
Congress Demands Accountability from Education Minister
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh alleged that Dharmendra Pradhan had failed to meet the expectations of millions of students across the country. He claimed the minister should step down instead of responding to criticism through social media posts. According to Ramesh, demands for Pradhan’s resignation are not based on a single controversy but stem from what he described as a series of failures during his tenure as Union Education Minister.
Ramesh also used strong words while responding to the minister’s recent remarks against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi. He said the Congress would continue highlighting what it considers serious shortcomings in the functioning of the Education Ministry.
Allegations Over Examination Management
The Congress leader referred to the functioning of the National Testing Agency (NTA), alleging that repeated examination-related controversies had damaged public confidence. He cited incidents including paper leak allegations, cancelled examinations in 2024, and controversies linked to the NEET-UG and UGC-NET Sociology examinations in 2026.
According to Ramesh, the ministry failed to implement recommendations made by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education regarding reforms in the NTA. He also alleged that official responses often denied irregularities instead of addressing concerns raised by students and opposition leaders.
Claims of Irregularities in Educational Institutions
The Congress further alleged irregularities in the procurement process for the On Screen Marking System used in CBSE Class 12 board examinations. Ramesh claimed that the tender process underwent multiple revisions before a contract was awarded to a company whose previous performance had raised concerns.
He also pointed out that a commission set up to investigate the matter had not publicly released its findings despite the expiry of its initial timeline. Additionally, Ramesh accused the government of making appointments to senior university positions based on political considerations rather than merit.
Concerns Over University Administration
Ramesh alleged that faculty members and students from several prominent universities, including Banaras Hindu University, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi University, Allahabad University, North Eastern Hill University, and Tezpur University, had raised complaints regarding the functioning of their administrations.
He further claimed that allegations of corruption had surfaced in faculty recruitment processes and referred to reported financial irregularities involving institutions such as the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), the University Grants Commission (UGC), the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), and the Indian Council for Historical Research (ICHR). These allegations have been made by the Congress, while investigations or legal proceedings continue in some cases.
Government Defends Its Position
The exchange followed remarks made by Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, party president Mallikarjun Kharge, and other senior leaders staged a protest outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence, demanding the education minister’s resignation over police action against students protesting the alleged NEET paper leak.
Responding through a post on X, Pradhan accused the Congress of using students for political purposes instead of participating in parliamentary discussions. He maintained that the government had already expressed its willingness to hold a comprehensive debate on NEET-related issues during the Monsoon Session of Parliament.
The minister said the government remains committed to addressing genuine concerns raised by students and emphasised that young people deserve meaningful reforms, transparency, and accountability rather than political confrontation. He added that the administration intends to provide answers and continue working towards strengthening the examination system.