Congress Demands Education Minister Resign, Questions Delhi University Extensions
On Monday, July 6, 2026, the Congress party launched a sharp attack on the central government's handling of the education system and announced plans to unveil an "Education Charter" aimed at overhauling the sector. During the announcement, party leaders also raised local administration concerns, specifically questioning the repeated extensions granted to the Vice-Chancellor of Delhi University.
Addressing a press conference, Congress leader and National Students' Union of India (NSUI) in-charge Kanhaiya Kumar accused the Narendra Modi government of pushing the country’s education system into the “Intensive Care Unit”. Kumar stated that the upcoming charter would be formulated after consultations with students, teachers, and parents across the country.
According to Kumar, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has been interacting with students in various parts of India to understand their concerns. These discussions will help prepare a roadmap for reforms, which will culminate in the final charter.
The Congress leader also demanded the immediate resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Kumar called for an inquiry into Pradhan's alleged links with the paper leak mafia.
Furthermore, Kumar criticized the National Testing Agency, alleging that the central government had weakened institutional safeguards by replacing earlier mechanisms with the agency. He demanded a comprehensive reform of the examination and recruitment systems, alongside a regular job calendar for youth and a fixed academic calendar.
NSUI president Vinod Jakhar also spoke at the conference, alleging that student union elections were being stifled across university campuses to tighten the grip of "BJP-RSS affiliates."
In response to these challenges, Jakhar announced that the NSUI would launch campus-level organizational elections. These elections will be conducted through an app-based system designed to be free, fair, and transparent.
