Rahul Gandhi Blames ‘Broken Education System’ After NEET Aspirant’s Death

The alleged suicide of a young NEET aspirant has reignited the political debate surrounding India's medical entrance examination system, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launching a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union government over the handling of the examination process.

The controversy emerged after reports of the death of Akanksha Chaturvedi , a NEET aspirant from Madhya Pradesh's Mauganj district , who was pursuing coaching in Nagpur . According to media reports, the student had reportedly fallen into depression amid uncertainty created by allegations of irregularities and the subsequent cancellation of the NEET-UG 2026 examination .

Expressing grief over the incident, Rahul Gandhi highlighted the sacrifices made by Akanksha's family to support her dream of becoming a doctor. He said her father, a farmer, had taken a loan of ₹3 lakh against his Kisan Credit Card and even worked as a cook in Nagpur so that his daughter could continue her preparation for the highly competitive medical entrance examination.

In a strongly worded statement, Gandhi alleged that the tragedy reflected deeper issues within the country's education system . He claimed that students across India were facing the consequences of repeated disruptions, uncertainty and alleged mismanagement in crucial examinations.

The Congress leader further criticised the government, asserting that administrative measures such as committees, transfers and inquiries were insufficient to address the concerns raised by students and their families. He questioned the accountability of those responsible for overseeing the examination system and called for meaningful reforms .

The latest remarks come against the backdrop of the ongoing controversy surrounding NEET-UG 2026 . Conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on May 3 , the examination was cancelled on May 12 following allegations of a paper leak . The matter is currently under investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) .

Authorities have announced that a re-examination on June 21 will be conducted, while thousands of aspirants across the country continue to await clarity regarding their academic future.

The incident has once again brought the spotlight on examination integrity, student mental health and the pressure faced by lakhs of young candidates pursuing professional education in India.