**Agartala, June 20:** The Tripura Pradesh Congress has launched a strong attack on the Central Government, alleging that repeated examination paper leaks, irregularities in recruitment processes, and rising unemployment have pushed the country’s education and employment sectors into a deep crisis.
In a press statement issued on Saturday, party leaders described the situation as a “national crisis” affecting millions of students and job seekers across the country. The Congress claimed that repeated failures in conducting fair examinations have eroded public trust and jeopardized the future of talented youth.
According to the party, more than 1.5 crore schoolchildren have dropped out over the past decade due to poverty, lack of opportunities, and growing uncertainty. It further alleged that at least 89 examination paper leaks and 48 re-examinations have taken place during the period, creating widespread frustration among students and parents.
The Congress specifically referred to the recent controversy surrounding the NEET examination, including allegations of a paper leak and the announcement of a re-test on June 21. The party accused the National Testing Agency (NTA) of failing to maintain transparency and fairness in conducting examinations. It alleged that repeated administrative changes and reforms have failed to curb corruption and malpractice.
Linking the issue to employment, Congress leaders argued that promises of large-scale job creation under initiatives such as Make in India have not materialized. Citing official data, they claimed unemployment currently stands at 9.7 percent nationally and 14.7 percent in Tripura. The party also pointed to over 9.64 lakh vacancies in central government departments and around 56,000 vacant posts in Tripura, alleging that recruitment processes remain delayed.
The statement further criticized flagship employment schemes, including the PM Mudra Yojana and the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme, claiming they have fallen short of expectations. It also highlighted vacancies in the Indian Railways, where lakhs of posts reportedly remain unfilled despite huge demand from job seekers.
The Congress accused the BJP of weakening public education through reduced budgetary support and alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations, including the recent TPSC lecturer recruitment process.
Demanding accountability, the party called for the resignation of the Union Education Minister and urged the Central Government to take immediate corrective measures. It also announced plans to continue protests across the country to demand transparency, employment generation, and reforms in the education sector.
