On Sunday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed his concern over alleged irregularities in the NEET medical entrance examination, claiming that the issues have significantly affected nearly 24 lakh students. He vowed to champion their cause in Parliament.

Gandhi emphasized his party's commitment to protecting students from such malpractices, referencing the Congress manifesto's promise to enact legislation preventing paper leaks. "I assure all students across the nation that I will be your voice in Parliament, addressing issues crucial to your future," he stated.

Controversy erupted when 67 candidates, including eight from a single centre in Haryana, achieved the top rank in the NEET-UG exam. This raised suspicions of manipulation, mark inflation, and paper leaks, prompting Congress to allege widespread corruption.

Rahul Gandhi took to X (formerly Twitter) to criticize Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of failing to prevent the alleged irregularities even before taking his oath of office. Gandhi highlighted the improbability of six students from one exam centre all securing the highest marks, suggesting the existence of a 'paper leak industry' facilitated by corrupt elements within the education sector and government.

In response to the allegations, the National Testing Agency (NTA), responsible for conducting the JEE examination, denied any wrongdoing. They announced the formation of a high-level panel to investigate the claims of inflated marks.

Gandhi's statements came shortly after the Congress Working Committee (CWC) passed a resolution encouraging him to assume the role of Leader of the Opposition. While acknowledging the CWC's sentiments, Gandhi mentioned he would soon decide on accepting the position, though no formal announcement has been made yet.