started · updated
Pralhad Joshi’s Education Minister Appointment Draws Congress Criticism over Exam Leaks
Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi have condemned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s choice of Pralhad Joshi as Union Education Minister. They allege the government has suppressed student protests over repeated examination paper leaks, using tear‑gas, baton charges and pellet‑gun fire against demonstrators. Priyanka Gandhi questioned why “the government fears the country’s youth” and demanded an explanation for the crackdown.
The opposition also accused Joshi of defending the release of the Bilkis Bano convicts, with Rahul Gandhi labeling him a “defender of rapists”. In the Lok Sabha debate on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill 2026, Priyanka Gandhi referred to IIT Madras director V. Kamakoti as a “cow‑urine expert”, recalling his 2025 statements on the antibacterial properties of cow urine. The controversy has led to a heated parliamentary exchange, the expunging of Priyanka’s remarks from the record, and calls for a probe into police actions during the NEET‑UG paper‑leak protests. Meanwhile, a high‑powered task force chaired by Nandan Nilekani has been set up to recommend reforms to the National Testing Agency.
Entities
Nandan Nilekani · National Testing Agency · Pralhad Joshi · Priyanka Gandhi Vadra · Rahul Gandhi · V. Kamakoti · Vijay Kamakoti
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Pralhad Joshi had previously defended the release of the Bilkis Bano rape‑convicts. www.nationalheraldindia.com · www.dnaindia.com · www.justicenews.co.in
- [● 3 SOURCES] Priyanka Gandhi referred to IIT Madras director V. Kamakoti as a ‘cow‑urine expert’. news.abplive.com · pragativadi.com · kannada.asianetnews.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Pralhad Joshi was appointed Union Education Minister after Dharmendra Pradhan resigned following NEET‑UG paper‑leak protests. www.newindianexpress.com · eawaz.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] V. Kamakoti made a public statement in 2025 about the antibacterial and antifungal properties of cow urine. news.abplive.com · kannada.asianetnews.com · www.mathrubhumi.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Nandan Nilekani heads a high‑powered task force to recommend reforms to the National Testing Agency. pragativadi.com · news.abplive.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The government used tear‑gas, baton charges and pellet‑gun fire against student protesters over examination paper‑leak demonstrations. eawaz.com · www.newindianexpress.com · www.newsmobile.in
- [● 3 SOURCES] Rahul Gandhi called Pralhad Joshi a ‘defender of rapists’ in reference to the Bilkis Bano case. www.nationalheraldindia.com · www.dnaindia.com · www.justicenews.co.in
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 proposes up to ten years imprisonment and a fine of 50 lakh rupees for paper‑leak offenses. www.newindianexpress.com · eawaz.com