Muzamil Arif Batt
India’s competitive examination system, long regarded as a cornerstone of meritocracy and social mobility, is facing a deepening crisis of credibility. Persistent allegations of irregularities and paper leaks in major exams continue to undermine the aspirations of millions of sincere students. While authorities investigate each case, the recurring controversies leave hardworking aspirants demoralised and the system’s integrity under scrutiny. This article explores the human cost, the challenges for public service delivery, the mental health toll on youth, and the path forward.
The Recurring Shadow of Exam Irregularities
In recent years, India has witnessed numerous controversies surrounding prestigious examinations such as NEET, JEE, UGC-NET, and various state-level recruitment tests. The latest flashpoint is NEET-UG 2026, held on May 3, where allegations have emerged of a “guess paper” or mock test circulating beforehand that reportedly showed striking similarities with a significant number of actual questions. Rajasthan Police’s Special Operations Group (SOG) is actively investigating the matter, having detained over 20 individuals for questioning. The National Testing Agency (NTA) has stated that the examination was conducted under strict security protocols and that the probe is underway, while some reports indicate the possibility of a re-examination.
Such incidents are not isolated. Over the past decade, multiple central and state exams have faced similar allegations, often involving organised networks of middlemen, insiders, and coaching hubs. Question sets allegedly surface on messaging platforms, raising serious concerns. While investigations lead to cancellations, re-exams, or probes by agencies like the CBI in some cases, the repeated controversies severely damage public confidence. Responsibility is shared across examination processes, enforcement gaps, and the high-stakes coaching ecosystem, underscoring the urgent need for systemic reforms.
Merit Undermined: The Struggle of Hardworking Students
For crores of students, particularly from modest, rural, and small-town backgrounds, competitive exams remain the most promising route to upward mobility. These aspirants dedicate years to rigorous preparation, often at great personal and financial cost, under intense family and societal pressure. When irregularities occur, their sincere efforts risk being overshadowed, resulting in repeated attempts, backlogs, financial hardship, and delayed careers.
This situation deepens inequality. Students without access to expensive networks or resources feel the system is unfairly tilted, breeding frustration and cynicism.
The Human Cost: Depression, Suicides, and Mounting Pressure
The psychological toll is alarming. Intense academic stress, combined with fears of unfair competition, contributes significantly to anxiety and depression. According to the latest NCRB Accidental Deaths & Suicides in India 2024 report, student suicides reached a record 14,488 cases — an 8.5% share of total suicides and a 4.3% rise from the previous year. Academic pressure and perceived injustice are frequently cited as contributing factors, with coaching centres like Kota regularly witnessing tragic incidents.
Many students express a deep sense of betrayal: “Why prepare honestly if the system can be gamed?” This leads to diminished motivation, isolation, and, in extreme cases, loss of life. Family expectations further amplify the crisis. Although helplines and counselling initiatives exist, mental health support remains inadequate for the scale of the problem. The trend risks demoralising an entire generation and weakening India’s demographic advantage.
Beneficiaries of Irregularities: Competence and Public Duty Concerns
A critical question concerns the long-term suitability of candidates who may have benefited from unfair means for critical professional roles. Positions in medicine, engineering, administration, and policing require strong conceptual foundations, ethical judgement, and problem-solving abilities — attributes best developed through genuine preparation.
While some individuals may compensate through subsequent learning and experience, systemic concerns remain valid. Gaps in foundational knowledge can impact service quality, public safety, and institutional effectiveness. In public offices, where integrity is paramount, entry via shortcuts risks normalising ethical compromises and eroding public trust. Merit-based selection remains essential for maintaining competence and accountability in governance and essential services.
Legal Framework and Ongoing Reforms
The Centre has responded with the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, which came into force in June 2024. It provides stringent penalties: 3–5 years imprisonment and fines for individuals, and harsher provisions (5–10 years and up to ₹1 crore) for organised offences. The Act makes such crimes cognizable and non-bailable, aiming to deter the “education mafia.”
Effective implementation, especially for state-level exams, along with technological solutions such as biometric authentication, AI proctoring, secure digital question banks, and stricter logistics, will be crucial. Fast-track investigations and greater regulation of the coaching industry are also needed.
A Call for Collective Action: Safeguarding India’s Future
India’s youth constitute its greatest asset. Persistent exam controversies threaten to squander this potential by discouraging genuine merit, introducing risks of incompetence in vital services, and triggering a mental health crisis. Hardworking students deserve a level playing field where diligence is fairly rewarded.
Restoring credibility demands coordinated efforts: rigorous enforcement of the 2024 Act with time-bound probes; nationwide adoption of transparent examination practices; expanded mental health infrastructure; responsible regulation of coaching centres; and a cultural shift that values honest effort over shortcuts. Governments, examination bodies, judiciary, media, educators, parents, and civil society must work together.
Reforming the examination ecosystem is not merely an administrative exercise — it is a national imperative for social justice, institutional strength, and inclusive development.
India’s youth are watching. They deserve a system that honours their hard work and restores faith in merit. The time for decisive, collective action is now.
Muzamil Arif is a well-known independent writer and columnist from Doda Bhalessa, Jammu and Kashmir.. His writings aim to foster awareness, fairness, and positive change in society.
