Rahul Gandhi (Indian National Congress) said the total expenditure for preparing for the country's top five entrance exams is three times higher than India's education budget [1].
This claim highlights the growing economic pressure on students who rely on private coaching and expensive resources to secure professional degrees. The debate centers on whether the current education system creates an unfair barrier for low-income students.
Speaking at a gathering in Maharashtra regarding the TET-2026 exam, Gandhi criticized government education policies. He said the cost of preparing for these exams is a theft of the future for young people [2]. He linked these challenges to issues such as paper leaks, saying it is not just about leaked documents but the systemic failure to protect student aspirations [2].
According to Gandhi, the total cost for these top five exams reaches approximately ₹5.5 lakh crore [1]. For context, the education budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year was ₹1.86 lakh crore [1].
However, a fact-check by DW found these figures to be inaccurate. The DW Fact-Check team said the actual estimated expenditure is significantly lower than the education budget, placing it at less than ₹1.2 lakh crore [1]. The report concluded that the claim that preparation costs are three times the national budget is factually incorrect [1].
Gandhi's comments come amid ongoing tensions between the Congress party and the ruling government over employment and academic integrity. The BJP responded to these assertions by dismissing Gandhi's rhetoric as a performance that the youth of the country will not accept [3].
“The total expenditure for preparing for the country's top five entrance exams is three times higher than India's education budget.”
The disparity between Rahul Gandhi's figures and the DW fact-check underscores a volatile political battle over India's 'coaching culture.' While the specific numerical claim of ₹5.5 lakh crore may be contested, the underlying issue reflects a broader societal crisis where private tutoring has become a prerequisite for success, effectively privatizing the path to public sector employment and higher education.
