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India's examination system faces scrutiny following controversies involving the NEET-UG paper leak, CBSE's digital evaluation processes, and civil services papers.
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00:00Good evening, you're watching To The Point. I'm Preeti Chaudhary.
00:04First up, allow me to take you through the headlines.
00:10Inside details on Sidhara Maya's meeting with Congress High Command,
00:13Siddhu proposes to establish a coordination panel between party and government
00:17to become another power centre in state.
00:23Bigger scoop on the new DKS cabinet, Siddhu's son, Yathindra, likely to be inducted.
00:28Siddhu's close aide, A.S. Ponana, B. Suresh, may get births.
00:32G. Parmeshwara, Dinesh Gundu Rao to be retained.
00:38Law catches up with three shahs-in-laws.
00:40CBI gets five-day custody of husband Samarth and mother-in-law Giribala Singh.
00:49Supreme Court pauses tough questions to centre over Neat Leak Gate,
00:53asks how did failure occur despite monitoring.
00:56Notice has been issued to Education Ministry.
01:00NTA claims to be taking issue of exam integrity seriously.
01:0822-year-old Indian student from Gujarat stabbed to death in Canada.
01:13Vidhi Megha was attacked in broad daylight during an attempt of robbery.
01:22After a poor show by Mumbai Indians in IPL 26, skipper Hardik Pandya reportedly quits team.
01:28Owners and management have been informed that he doesn't want to continue with the team.
01:43All right, the latest news coming in.
01:45Rahul Gandhi has been going after the Education Ministry and the Education Minister,
01:49Darbendra Pradhan, when it comes to NEAT and CBSC.
01:52The latest social media post by Rahul Gandhi, the leader of opposition,
01:57says during my interaction with NEAT students, one thing became absolutely clear.
02:02India's youth does not trust Narendra Modi.
02:05They told me that exam papers are being openly sold on WhatsApp and Telegram.
02:09At what price they are being sold, who is buying them and how the mafia operates.
02:13These children know it all.
02:15They had just one question.
02:17Why does the government and the institution not know what we know?
02:20The truth is, these children understand far better than the government on how to fix the rotten system.
02:26On the other hand, it is truly shameful that the very army,
02:29whose duty is to defend the nation against enemies,
02:32is being today deployed to protect children's examination papers from the government's own corruption.
02:39Peacemeal reforms will no longer suffice.
02:42The entire examination system must be rebuilt from scratch in collaboration with students, teachers and experts.
02:50All right, so this is a concerted attempt by Rahul Gandhi to constantly try and put the government on the
02:55mat
02:56with NEAT and now the later CBSC crisis.
02:59I want to take our viewers deeper into what seemingly is an educational crisis.
03:05India's examination system is facing its biggest credibility question in years.
03:10In less than three weeks, the question, the country, has been rocked by three major controversies.
03:15The NEAT paper leak, Rao, the CBSC digital evaluation storm,
03:19and now outrage over the UPSC preliminary paper.
03:23What began as student anger is now snowballing into a full-blown political battle as well,
03:29which has reached the Supreme Court, triggering a fierce face-off between the opposition and the government.
03:36PANG ARO!
03:38PANG ARO!
03:40PANG ARO!
04:05Three controversies in less than three weeks and India's education system
04:10is now at the centre of a massive political storm.
04:15First, the neat paper leak Rao, then the CBSC on-screen marking controversy
04:20and then outrage over the UPSC prelims paper.
04:25From exam halls to the Supreme Court, questions are mounting over the credibility of India's examination system.
04:33The neat paper leak case has now reached the Supreme Court.
04:37We cannot disappoint our youngsters this way.
04:40It is very traumatic for not just the students, but their families as well,
04:44said the Apex Court as it heard the paper leak matter.
04:48The National Testing Agency was asked how did this failure occur despite monitoring mechanisms in place.
04:54Supreme Court remarked that the real problem won't stop till actual accountability arises.
05:00Drawing a comparison with the UPSC, the court observed that such incidents
05:04have never occurred in the country's premier civil services examination
05:08and suggested that lessons need to be learned from its systems.
05:13The centre has ordered to file an affidavit in six weeks.
05:17The opposition has seized on the controversy.
05:21Rahul Gandhi accused the Modi government of failing lakhs of students,
05:24demanding a judicial probe and SIT investigation into the CBSE contract row.
05:30The whole country knows that the two days before the exam was released on WhatsApp,
05:37the NEET paper was distributed.
05:40Dharmendra Paddan Ji, the education minister of Hindustan's education minister,
05:44says that you don't have to take anything.
05:46The minister should have an immediate order to give Dharmendra Paddan Ji,
05:50that Dharmendra Paddan Ji, give him a certify,
05:52he will be sacked,
05:58Rahul also met the family of NEET aspirant who died by suicide in Rajasthan,
06:03calling it the consequence of a broken and corrupt system.
06:07Facing mounting pressure,
06:08education minister Dharmendra Paddan defended the CBSE system
06:12and admitted that glitches need fixing
06:14but also accused Rahul Gandhi of politicising students' anxiety.
06:41And now, UPSC aspirants have joined the chorus,
06:44questioning the difficulty and unpredictability of this event.
06:50Three controversies, one education system under scrutiny
06:53and a political battle that is only getting bigger.
06:58Bureau Report, India Today.
07:03All right, I want to quickly cut across to our panelists this evening.
07:05Joining me, Sanju Verma, BJP spokesperson,
07:08Lavanya Balal Jain, spokesperson, Congress.
07:11I also am joined by Professor Anita Rampal,
07:14Professor and former Dean, Faculty of Education,
07:16Delhi University, Keshav Agrawal,
07:18Vice President, Coaching Federation of India.
07:21All of you, I'd like to give you two minutes each
07:23to put your points forward
07:24before we get into the political panelists.
07:26I'd like to bring in our two educationists on board this evening.
07:31Ms. Rampal, I'd like to begin with you
07:32because there is something that holds this country together,
07:36especially where the middle class is concerned,
07:38and that is meritocracy.
07:40There is a belief that if you work hard,
07:43merit will be honoured and rewarded.
07:46But paper leaks itself and one controversy after the other.
07:51We've seen NEAT, we've seen CBSC.
07:53When stuff like this happens, it doesn't just disappoint.
07:56There is disillusionment that sets in
07:58where young kids with dreams hoping
08:01that they've worked hard enough
08:02and they'll crack the big dream.
08:06Yes, absolutely.
08:08And it's not just the students.
08:10It's an entire ecosystem.
08:12I mean, it's the families and, you know, everyone.
08:15For them, it's an aspirational project of changing lives.
08:19You know, the possibilities that they think through education.
08:21And what is happening is devastating.
08:24But I just want to say that the only sort of silver lining
08:28I've seen in this,
08:29because it's with impunity that this is happening.
08:33And I don't want to even say that NTA,
08:35before it came, we said it shouldn't come.
08:38The why the issues,
08:40why there are problems with this centralised,
08:43completely unacademic body,
08:45which is not accountable to the parliament,
08:47is another issue.
08:48But I think the only silver lining is the students.
08:52Because the system right now,
08:53I've spoken to so many teachers
08:55who are really upset by this kind of marking in CBSE.
08:59But the students have taken it up.
09:02Young students have actually, you know,
09:04they've used their knowledge and their creativity
09:07to tell us what's wrong, to warn the system.
09:10But the system has not heeded to that.
09:12In fact, the system is almost,
09:14I've attended a session with Nisarga
09:17on one of the channels.
09:18And I was shocked how he was being,
09:21literally, almost being treated like
09:23someone, you know, who's hacked something.
09:26And the anchor was on behalf of CBSE,
09:28was almost attacking him.
09:30And I think that is unacceptable.
09:33What is happening to teachers is also unacceptable.
09:36CBSE teachers,
09:38we cannot mark like that.
09:40This is not how assessment is done.
09:42We are teachers.
09:43We use our professional judgments.
09:45We do it for the benefit of a fair assessment.
09:49And if you treat us like robots,
09:51we are not going to get anywhere.
09:54All right.
09:55I want to bring in Keshav Agrawal into this conversation.
09:57Keshav Agrawal, you know,
09:58one can keep naming one controversy after the other.
10:01They can be neat.
10:02You can talk about, you know,
10:04the on-screen marking system
10:06where CBSE is concerned,
10:07the UPSC preliminary examination.
10:10But the bottom line is quite the same.
10:12You know, you might bring in the army and the air force,
10:14but until and unless that you make
10:16large, sweeping educational reforms,
10:19all of this will come to a knot.
10:24You're on mute, sir.
10:282024 was a big fiasco for NTA
10:31and NTA was an agency brought for online exams.
10:35It was never for offline exams
10:37and yet it was experimented
10:39and result was very much visible in 2024.
10:43Radhakishan committee was formed.
10:44A lot of suggestions were given,
10:46but the suggestions which would have made a difference
10:49were not implemented.
10:50And 2026 saw the inevitable happening
10:55and it was on the papers
10:57what was going to happen.
10:59Now, your own system teachers
11:00were leaking the paper
11:02and the robust system
11:04which you were supposed to build up
11:06was never robust.
11:08It got busted.
11:09And the result,
11:1222 lakh students suffering.
11:14The trust lost in the system.
11:17The entire country was put to shame.
11:22Now, when 2024 indicated all parameters,
11:26you should have actually taken guard
11:28and you never took guard against all that
11:31and that happened.
11:32Now, CBSC,
11:34a beautiful policy,
11:36a beautiful digitalization thing
11:38and you messed it up
11:40by implementing it at the wrong time
11:42in a wrong way
11:43and on such a large number of data.
11:47How can you think of scanning
11:4940 crore answer sheets,
11:52pages?
11:52That's too much
11:54and without even checking
11:55the credentials of the company,
11:57you're putting class 12th board exams
12:00at stake
12:00and every day.
12:02Now, you are coming up
12:04with one or the other thing
12:05and that is every day.
12:06Now, today the latest is
12:08even the totaling error has come
12:09which was never supposed to happen
12:11with this system.
12:12Now, students are not even trusting.
12:16If see,
12:17even one child gets compromised,
12:19then it is enough for system
12:21to be questioned.
12:22Out here, there are so many.
12:24Today, the notification has come.
12:26Now, the revaluation process
12:28of examining will begin
12:30from 1st June.
12:32CBSC has actually messed up everything.
12:35They were built.
12:36Sir, your time,
12:37you know,
12:38we've given you a two-minute timer.
12:39I'll circle back to you.
12:40You can complete your submissions then.
12:42I want to bring in
12:43our two other political spokespersons
12:45into this conversation
12:46because what is happening
12:48in terms of the educational system
12:50is echoing right now
12:51in politics as well
12:52where you have the opposition
12:54gunning for the education ministry
12:55and the education minister.
12:57And I want to begin
12:58with Sanju Verma
12:59in all of this.
12:59Sanju Verma,
13:01some would suggest,
13:02yeah, you know,
13:03bring the army and the air force
13:04if that is what it takes
13:05to safeguard paper leaks
13:07and to, you know,
13:09safeguard our education system.
13:11But Sanju Verma,
13:12you and I both know
13:13that the air force,
13:14the army,
13:14and even if you bring in the navy
13:15is not the answer to this.
13:18You know, Preeti,
13:19let me get one thing
13:20very clear across to your audience.
13:22I think the first step
13:23in resolving a problem
13:24is taking cognizance of it
13:26rather than shoving
13:27the uncomfortable truth
13:28under the carpet.
13:29If the government
13:30has decided
13:30that the Indian Air Force
13:32or other central agencies
13:33or paramilitary forces,
13:34what have you,
13:36need to be put into play,
13:38I don't think,
13:39you know,
13:39any sane-minded citizen
13:41who wants to ensure
13:43transparency,
13:43accountability
13:44within the education system
13:45needs to be crying foul.
13:48The Supreme Court
13:49has asked the government
13:50to put in an affidavit
13:52in the next six weeks
13:53on the modus operandi
13:55of various competitive exams
13:56and the government
13:57will do that
13:58so that
13:59dood ka dood
13:59or paani ka paani hoga.
14:01Does, you know,
14:02the system need fixing?
14:04Oh, yes.
14:05Is it a mere technical glitch?
14:07No.
14:08Do we need more whistleblowers
14:10like Vedan Srivastava
14:11without calling him
14:12a Pakistani
14:12or a Bangladeshi,
14:13what have you?
14:14Yes.
14:15Having said that,
14:16let's also be very,
14:18very clear.
14:18Is Rahul Gandhi politicizing
14:20the entire CBSE
14:22and NEET examination issue?
14:24Oh, most certainly yes.
14:25Because this is the same
14:27Rahul Gandhi
14:27who was a mute spectator
14:29when there were 24 leaks
14:33under Ashok Gailot.
14:34He was the ex-Chief Minister
14:35of Rajasthan
14:36during the Congress regime
14:37being in power.
14:39And everybody says,
14:40oh, we took responsibility.
14:42Did Ashok Gailot resign?
14:43No.
14:43Ashok Gailot's son,
14:45Vaibhav Gailot,
14:45was also involved
14:46in the Rajasthan
14:47Recruitment Board
14:48examination fiasco.
14:50Did Vaibhav Gailot resign?
14:51No.
14:52But here,
14:53if you're asking
14:53for Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation,
14:56my take is,
14:56whether he will resign or not,
14:59whether, you know,
15:00he finds a place
15:00in the new cabinet,
15:01reshuffle or not,
15:02that is the prerogative
15:03of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
15:05That is not the prerogative
15:07of Sonia Gandhi,
15:08Priyanka Vadra,
15:09Rahul Gandhi
15:09or the Darbari ecosystem.
15:11Having said that,
15:12I think the fact
15:13that we are moving
15:14in NEET
15:15from an OMR format
15:17to the CBT format
15:19is a precursor
15:20of better things to come.
15:21your time is up.
15:22Your time is up,
15:23ma'am.
15:23I want to,
15:24you know,
15:24cut across to the
15:25Congress spokesperson,
15:26Lavanya Balal.
15:26Bring her in on this.
15:27Lavanya Balal,
15:29the submission of Sanju Verma
15:31is,
15:31and at the back of it as well,
15:33the last election
15:33in Rajasthan,
15:34some would suggest
15:35you lost
15:35because of the massive
15:36paper leaks
15:37in your state
15:37and you paid
15:38the political price of it.
15:39But at that point of time,
15:41the urgency
15:41to address
15:42the educational system
15:44wasn't as intense
15:45as it is right now
15:47where you have Rahul Gandhi
15:48demanding
15:48for the resignation
15:50of the education minister.
15:52Question being
15:53that you are politicizing
15:54the issue,
15:54there are new,
15:55you know,
15:57forms,
15:58ways,
15:58and reforms
16:01that are being introduced
16:02into the education system.
16:03Yes,
16:04the timing could have been wrong
16:05as some of our panelists suggested,
16:07but the acceptance of this
16:09also needs to be there
16:10by the opposition
16:11to give the government time
16:13to correct what's wrong.
16:15Good evening, Preeti.
16:17It's the duty
16:17of the opposition
16:18to stand by the people
16:19of India.
16:21They may or may not
16:22have voted for us,
16:23it is irrespective,
16:24but it is our duty
16:25to stand by the future
16:27generation of India.
16:291.2 crore students
16:30have been affected
16:31this time
16:32because of all the fiasco
16:33when it comes to need,
16:34when it comes to CVSB.
16:37Look at the amount
16:37of pressure
16:38that is there
16:39on the students
16:40and on the teachers
16:41and all of them.
16:42So it is the duty
16:44of the opposition parties
16:47to stand by
16:48all of these people
16:49while they are talking about,
16:51yes,
16:51this happened in Rajasthan.
16:53If this happened in Rajasthan
16:54and our leaders
16:55were not held accountable,
16:57are you saying
16:57that BJP
16:58is exactly like the Congress
16:59and you are also demanding
17:00that your leaders
17:01must not be held accountable?
17:02I mean,
17:03there must be
17:03some kind of moral grounds
17:04where Mr. Pradhan
17:06must feel,
17:07hey,
17:07I have failed
17:071.2 crore students
17:09in India
17:10and also their parents
17:11and their teachers.
17:12So I think it is
17:13my moral duty
17:14to resign
17:16because he has not been able
17:18to conduct examinations
17:19correctly.
17:20And this is not the first time
17:21the paper leaks
17:22are happening, right?
17:23We had that in 2024
17:24as well.
17:25We had paper leaks.
17:26When CBSC called for
17:27on-screen
17:29marking tenders
17:30thrice,
17:31the first time
17:31there were zero bids,
17:33second time
17:33there were no qualified bidders
17:35and the third time
17:36the technical bar
17:37was lowered
17:38so that COEMT
17:39could clear it.
17:40PCS was rejected
17:42and COEMT
17:42was brought in.
17:43That was six months
17:44before examinations,
17:45before the system
17:46could be in place
17:47and, you know,
17:47all glitches
17:48could be found out.
17:49I mean,
17:49what was the necessity
17:50to bring in
17:52these people
17:53who have,
17:54you know,
17:55the rules had to be bent
17:56to accommodate
17:57these people.
17:58Why are you putting
18:00so many crores
18:00of people at risk?
18:02What is the future
18:02for these students?
18:03The amount of stress,
18:04the amount of students
18:05who have committed
18:06suicide
18:06because of
18:07this fiasco,
18:10it is our duty
18:11to stand by
18:12the people of India.
18:13Look at BJP's ecosystem
18:14which called the students
18:15as Pakistanis.
18:16They should be ashamed
18:17of this.
18:17Ma'am,
18:17your time is up.
18:18Your time is up.
18:19I want to bring in
18:19Anita Rampal
18:20into this conversation
18:21and the glitches
18:23are and,
18:24you know,
18:25it's an abomination
18:26if you actually read
18:27into what all
18:28has happened,
18:29Ms. Rampal.
18:30And it's a question
18:30for Sanju Varma
18:31as well,
18:31which I will ask her
18:32because let's look at
18:33even the on-screen
18:34marking system right now,
18:36which,
18:36like the other panelist says,
18:38is beautiful,
18:39spectacular,
18:40should have been integrated
18:41at the right time,
18:42tested rightly,
18:43and then it could have worked.
18:44It could have been
18:44one of the reforms
18:45maybe that we could have bought in.
18:47But having said that,
18:48Professor Rampal,
18:49well,
18:50the on-screen marking system,
18:52which is the firm
18:53that is given,
18:54you know,
18:55the tender for it,
18:57Telangana firm,
18:58which bungled up
18:59the issue
19:00in Telangana as well.
19:02It was fined as well.
19:04And now,
19:05the same company
19:06was hired by CBS
19:07at a central level.
19:10That's true.
19:11But before this,
19:12I want to say that
19:13two things.
19:14Neither is this on-screen
19:15marking a beautiful system.
19:17Okay.
19:18It's a very, very
19:19inappropriate system.
19:20We shouldn't be marking like that.
19:22And scanning and giving it
19:24to children
19:25is a different thing.
19:25But people who are assessors,
19:27people who are good teachers,
19:29who are using their human judgment,
19:31shouldn't be marking like that.
19:32It's a totally flawed system.
19:35And two,
19:36neat-going computer-based
19:37is also flawed.
19:39So both these things
19:40are not in our assessment
19:42any way forward.
19:43They're both problematic.
19:45Computer-based system
19:46for children
19:47who don't have resources
19:48only,
19:49it only promotes
19:50the coaching industry
19:51like we have seen earlier.
19:53Okay.
19:54What, according to you,
19:55Dr. Rampal,
19:56are the reforms
19:57that we are looking at?
19:58Let's give Anita Rampal
19:59another minute.
19:59What, according to you,
20:00are the reforms
20:01that we should be looking at?
20:03Yeah.
20:03So,
20:04for need,
20:05for instance,
20:06we should have
20:07this just a multiple-choice,
20:09one-shot
20:10system doesn't work.
20:12It doesn't even assess
20:13your understanding.
20:14It only,
20:14you get,
20:15you mug up
20:16and do rote memorization.
20:17You have to go to,
20:18to get speed,
20:19you have to go
20:20to a coaching industry.
20:21So we do a screening
20:23which can be,
20:24some part of it
20:25machine-scorable,
20:27some part of it
20:27are short answers,
20:28but I'm saying something
20:30which is more easily
20:31accessible,
20:32but not at a national level.
20:34We have to decentralize it.
20:36And we have to have
20:37agencies
20:38which are academic bodies.
20:40We want academic bodies
20:41who can do research
20:42and say,
20:43are we getting
20:44the students we want?
20:45What kind of a question
20:47are we asking?
20:48And are we really
20:48getting the students
20:50that we need
20:50for this kind of a course?
20:52So that should be academic
20:54which also does
20:55longitudinal studies.
20:56And a second point,
20:58like the JEE,
20:59but JEE is different,
21:00so I'm not saying
21:00the JEE,
21:02but like that,
21:03when you have fewer people
21:05as at your screen,
21:06then a more advanced
21:08in which you go deeper
21:09into the analysis,
21:10you want to see
21:11whether they really understand
21:12and also what kind
21:14of attitude
21:15do they have
21:16for this course
21:17to be a doctor?
21:19Are they going to be
21:19just thinking
21:20that we've spent lakhs
21:21so we can make lakhs?
21:22That's not the kind
21:23of doctor our country needs.
21:25So what kind of,
21:26what is their understanding?
21:27Like we do that.
21:28We've done that
21:29in Delhi University
21:30with lakhs of students
21:31applying for a B.Ed
21:33or a B.L.Ed
21:34to become teachers,
21:35which again
21:36is a professional course.
21:37So for us,
21:38it's important to assess
21:39do they really have
21:40an understanding
21:41of what education entails?
21:44They've not just come
21:44through a general knowledge test
21:46or some other test
21:47or some coaching industry.
21:48So I think you can do that
21:50and we need to do that
21:51two level thing for NEET
21:53but decentralize.
21:55Let states do it.
21:56This one totally marginalizes
21:59the states.
22:00Just look at it.
22:00Only CBSE students
22:02get into Delhi University
22:03through CUET.
22:05Our university is not made
22:06only for CBSE.
22:08It's the smallest board.
22:10CBSE is 30,000 schools,
22:1133,000 schools.
22:13Other states have large boards.
22:15We cannot marginalize
22:16or disenfranchise
22:19these state boards.
22:20So we need
22:21a decentralized model.
22:23And for CBSE,
22:24we need,
22:25yes,
22:26we need
22:27better questions again,
22:29not just multiple choice,
22:31but they are doing
22:32so better questions.
22:34Assessors
22:34who understand better
22:36but give them
22:36a more relaxed
22:38environment
22:38and they have a consensus.
22:41They sit together
22:42and decide
22:42and now out of these
22:4410 people are deciding
22:45that this is the way
22:46we are going to be marking
22:47and then they keep a check.
22:49So a kind of monitoring,
22:51we can do that.
22:52We've done that.
22:52Okay, fair point.
22:54I would hope
22:54the other panelist
22:55would be as gracious
22:56as I
22:57who gave this panelist
22:58an extra minute
22:59because she needed
23:00to put the point forth
23:01in terms of reform.
23:02And no, no,
23:03appreciate it, ma'am.
23:05I want to bring in
23:05Keshav Agarwal
23:07into this conversation.
23:08Mr. Agarwal,
23:09with what the professor
23:10just said
23:10is a complete
23:13takedown
23:13of what you,
23:14Mr. Agarwal,
23:15said,
23:15that it's really lovely
23:16that you can have
23:17the OSM,
23:18which is the
23:18on-screen marking system.
23:19She says,
23:20no, it's not.
23:21You know,
23:22these are the reforms
23:22that are needed
23:23and this only benefits
23:24the coaching system.
23:25And especially
23:26if the need goes online,
23:28it will only benefit
23:29you in time.
23:29So now let me
23:31come one by one.
23:32Nit,
23:33I have done
23:33a lot of studies
23:34and I have a
23:35concrete foolproof
23:36solution where
23:37I can challenge
23:37the leakers
23:38paper leak
23:39and I'll present
23:40it before you.
23:42Now, why
23:42we cannot go backwards?
23:44Digitalization
23:44is the modern day
23:45and we all
23:46use digital things.
23:47A school principal
23:48was asked by CBSC
23:50to send the best teachers.
23:52The principal replied,
23:53best teacher
23:54honen mein
23:55and technologically
23:56best honen mein
23:57fark hai.
23:57And that is
23:58what CBSC
23:59needs to understand.
24:00Training is
24:00an important part
24:01before you
24:02implement any system.
24:03You cannot
24:04blame a system.
24:05Yesterday,
24:06the marker boards
24:07were used.
24:07Today,
24:08we have digital boards
24:09doing wonderful things.
24:10You have to
24:11move forward.
24:12Only thing is
24:12proper training,
24:14proper timing
24:14and then the thing
24:16will come out
24:16beautifully.
24:17Nit.
24:18Now,
24:18online cannot
24:19suffice nit.
24:20Why?
24:20Because it is
24:2122 lakh students.
24:22You just have
24:23system of testing
24:242 lakh seats
24:25in a day.
24:25It would go
24:26for 20 days.
24:28Server to be
24:29hacked.
24:30The people
24:30would get
24:31remote access.
24:32Then,
24:32the medical
24:32association
24:33will never
24:34allow normalization.
24:35Normalization
24:36is the flawed
24:36constant
24:37even in jail.
24:38So,
24:39with rural
24:40children into
24:41picture,
24:42nit is not
24:42going to be
24:43held or
24:43they are not
24:44going to
24:44be held
24:44by online.
24:46One minute,
24:47I will give
24:47you a solution.
24:48Today,
24:49it just takes
24:513 days to
24:52prepare question
24:53paper of
24:53nit
24:54with experts
24:55and AI.
24:57just get
24:57the experts,
24:595 or 4
24:59teachers of
25:00each into
25:01a room
25:01guarded by
25:02CISF
25:03and lock
25:04them with
25:04all facilities
25:05with 5
25:06typists.
25:07Type the
25:07paper,
25:08get the
25:08paper ready
25:09in 3 days.
25:10Nit paper was
25:11solved by
25:12AI in 12
25:12minutes.
25:13Bang on.
25:14And then,
25:14on the day
25:15of the exam,
25:164th or 5th
25:16day,
25:17just mail
25:18the paper
25:19to the
25:19center.
25:20Who would do?
25:20Encrypted form
25:21DG and
25:22TA.
25:22And at
25:23the center,
25:24get 2
25:24printers and
25:25just print
25:26before 2
25:26hours before
25:27the exam.
25:28Now,
25:28the people
25:29who have
25:29said the
25:30paper are
25:30inside,
25:31the students
25:32to whom
25:32the paper
25:33can be
25:33leaked are
25:34inside the
25:34center.
25:35Start the
25:35printing,
25:36give them
25:36the paper.
25:37Where is
25:37the question
25:38of leak
25:39now?
25:39It will
25:40just take
25:404 to
25:415 days
25:41to finish
25:42this.
25:43Now,
25:43there has
25:44to be
25:45solution.
25:45We can't
25:46keep doing
25:47blame and
25:47politics.
25:48Now,
25:48politics will
25:49never end,
25:50but my
25:51student has
25:52suffered.
25:53See his
25:53mental
25:54condition.
25:54See the
25:55stress,
25:56the steps
25:56they are
25:56taking.
25:57We need
25:58to give
25:58solution
25:59today instant
26:00to them.
26:00First,
26:01CPSC needs
26:02to give
26:02the solution
26:03instant.
26:05Within
26:05this,
26:05the foreign
26:06universities,
26:07all admissions
26:07are getting
26:08affected.
26:08The child
26:09who spent
26:10years making
26:11all the
26:11applications,
26:12today he's
26:12in limbo
26:13because the
26:14university
26:14outside will
26:15not wait
26:16for you.
26:16JOSA
26:17application will
26:18begin.
26:18The NEET
26:18exam is on
26:19the head
26:20and you
26:20are still
26:22doing that
26:22mouse,
26:23cat game,
26:24when the
26:25portal will
26:25open,
26:26when will
26:26I apply.
26:27So,
26:28see the
26:28stress of
26:28my child
26:29today.
26:31I want to
26:33bring in
26:33Sanju Varma
26:34into this
26:34conversation.
26:35Sanju Varma
26:35and the
26:36political
26:36panelists get
26:37two minutes
26:37each to put
26:38their point
26:38forward.
26:39Like I said,
26:39please be
26:40gracious,
26:40the both
26:40of you.
26:41And the
26:41question I
26:42will ask
26:42you,
26:42Sanju
26:43Varma,
26:43optics can't
26:44be enough,
26:44Sanju
26:45Varma.
26:45You heard
26:45both the
26:46panelists.
26:47Bringing in
26:47the army,
26:48bringing in
26:48the air
26:49force to
26:50safeguard a
26:51paper leak.
26:52The optics
26:53might look
26:54that the
26:55government is
26:55pulling out
26:56all the
26:56stops.
26:57But then
26:57somewhere down
26:58the line it
26:58also shames
26:59the government
26:59that you have
26:59to bring in
27:00the army and
27:00you have to
27:01bring in the
27:01air force,
27:02number one.
27:02Number two,
27:03if this is the
27:04extent that the
27:05government wanted
27:06to go to
27:06Sanju Varma,
27:07then why did
27:08the government
27:08rope in a
27:09firm for the
27:10CBSC where the
27:12OSM marking
27:13is concerned,
27:14a firm which
27:15has been
27:16disgraced in
27:16Telangana,
27:17where a
27:17contract has
27:18been cancelled
27:18in Telangana,
27:19yet the
27:19same, so
27:20zero research.
27:23Preeti, you
27:23asked me
27:24questions, now
27:24let me give
27:25the pointed
27:26response.
27:27First, with
27:28no offence to
27:28Ms. Rampal,
27:30she's a
27:30reputed
27:31academician,
27:32but you know,
27:33suggestions were
27:34taken from
27:34various state
27:35courts,
27:36suggestions were
27:37taken from
27:37AICTE,
27:39from NTA,
27:40from UPSC,
27:42related personnel,
27:43from erstwhile
27:44regulatory legacy
27:45bodies like
27:46UGC,
27:47HECI,
27:48and it was
27:48then decided
27:49that CBT
27:50format will
27:51replace the
27:52OMR format
27:53in NEET exams.
27:54So this is
27:54not something
27:55the Modi
27:55government
27:56suddenly decided
27:56one fine
27:57morning at
27:58the drop
27:58of a hat.
27:59All
28:00stakeholders,
28:00their suggestions
28:01were duly
28:03deliberated upon.
28:04Please understand
28:05that.
28:05So Ms.
28:05Rampal,
28:06with no
28:07offence to
28:07her,
28:08may be an
28:08isolated case,
28:09there are
28:09thousands of
28:10teachers who
28:10feel that the
28:11OMR
28:12practice was
28:13vulnerable to
28:14malpractices,
28:15and CBT
28:16will be more
28:17transparent and
28:18accountable going
28:19forward.
28:20Point number
28:21two,
28:21which I need to
28:22stress upon is
28:23this.
28:24Rahul Gandhi
28:24has been making
28:25a whole lot of
28:26noise about
28:26one of the
28:27vendors,
28:28which is
28:28responsible for
28:30re-evaluation
28:30in the
28:32CBSE
28:33exams.
28:34The company
28:35in question,
28:36the vendor
28:36in question,
28:37is a
28:38company called
28:39Coempt
28:40EduTech
28:41Private Limited.
28:42He says
28:43that the
28:44Modi
28:44government
28:44deliberately
28:45gave contracts
28:45to this
28:46organization.
28:47So I
28:47want to
28:48ask Rahul
28:48Gandhi,
28:49since now
28:49this is a
28:50political
28:50hot potato,
28:52Bengaluru
28:52City University
28:53signed an
28:54agreement with
28:55this particular
28:56vendor in
28:57November
28:572025.
28:58Tab Sab
28:59Changapi,
29:00Adhikari
29:00Sri
29:01Maharshi
29:01Walmiki
29:02University
29:02signed an
29:03agreement in
29:04Raichu in
29:06March 2024
29:06with this
29:08particular
29:08vendor that
29:09Rahul Gandhi
29:09is trashing.
29:10Tab Sab
29:11Sahi
29:11Tha.
29:12Telangana
29:12State Health
29:13University
29:13has not
29:14cancelled its
29:15contract with
29:16this particular
29:17vendor.
29:18So will
29:18Rahul Gandhi
29:19now ask
29:20Revan
29:21Breddy to
29:21resign?
29:22Will Rahul
29:23Gandhi now
29:24institute a
29:24probe against
29:25Sidharamaya?
29:27Okay,
29:27Malio,
29:27time is up.
29:28But two
29:28things,
29:29the contract
29:29by Telangana
29:30was cancelled
29:31in 2019.
29:33No,
29:33it's not been
29:34cancelled.
29:34That's what
29:35at least the
29:42official line is.
29:43The second
29:43thing,
29:44Ms. Rampal
29:45didn't raise
29:45the point
29:46that you
29:46raised about
29:47the need
29:48just in
29:49isolation.
29:49She raised
29:50it in
29:51collaboration
29:51with
29:53decentralization.
29:53So,
29:54you know,
29:54it's an
29:54important point
29:55to read it
29:56in that
29:56manner.
29:58Before we
29:58decided on
29:59a CBT
29:59format,
30:00that's my
30:00humble
30:01submission.
30:02I have
30:02great respect
30:03for Ms.
30:03Rampal.
30:04Okay,
30:04I need to
30:05bring in
30:07the Congress
30:08spokesperson.
30:09Lavanya
30:10Bandal,
30:10the fact
30:10is,
30:11you still
30:11now,
30:12you have
30:12added one
30:13more state
30:13to your
30:14very small
30:14kitty of
30:15states that
30:15you run.
30:16There are
30:16certain papers
30:17that you
30:18can actually
30:18focus on,
30:19which are
30:20state-run,
30:21which see
30:21paper leaks.
30:22Maybe charity
30:23needs to
30:23begin at
30:24home,
30:24no?
30:26Priti,
30:26if you
30:27notice,
30:27it's the
30:28non-BJP
30:29states which
30:29have always
30:30been opposing.
30:31It may be
30:32Congress-led
30:33states or it
30:33may be our
30:34coalition partners
30:35who have
30:36consistently been
30:36saying we
30:37want to
30:38reject NEET.
30:39Having said
30:39that,
30:40I would say
30:40as a
30:41political party
30:42at this
30:42point of
30:43time,
30:43what do
30:43we want
30:44for our
30:44students?
30:45We want
30:45justice for
30:46our students
30:47and that
30:47starts
30:48with the
30:48Allow me
30:48to stop
30:49your
30:50prompter
30:50because I'll
30:50ask you a
30:51follow-up
30:51question on
30:52that.
30:52And that
30:52question stems
30:53from the
30:54fact, what
30:55I remember
30:56in the very
30:56recent past,
30:57is the
30:58DMK, your
30:58former ally,
30:59I would
31:00reckon, from
31:00Tamil Nadu,
31:01who had
31:01raised a
31:02concern about
31:03NEET time and
31:04and time again.
31:04It hasn't come
31:05from any of
31:06your states
31:06where you
31:07ruled.
31:10Absolutely.
31:11When I say
31:11it is our
31:12allies who have
31:13raised the
31:14objections, of
31:14course, Karnataka
31:15also has
31:16raised objections
31:17about NEET and
31:18this time, if
31:18you notice, we
31:19have gone ahead
31:20with CET for
31:21our students
31:21because of
31:23the entire
31:24NEET fiasco.
31:25What we want
31:26as an opposition
31:27party, justice
31:28for our
31:28students is
31:29going to be,
31:31it starts with
31:32the judicial
31:33probe.
31:33It also starts
31:34with the
31:34resignation of
31:35the incompetent
31:37education minister
31:38because the
31:38conviction rate,
31:39if you notice
31:40Preeti, in the
31:40previous paper
31:41leaks is zero.
31:42In 2024, there
31:43were so many
31:44people caught
31:44who were
31:45responsible for
31:46paper leak.
31:48The conviction
31:48rate is zero
31:49and this cannot
31:50continue.
31:51The BJP might
31:53throw multiple
31:54kinds of
31:55blames at the
31:55Congress, but
31:56we are committed
31:57to ensure that
31:58our students'
31:59future is safe.
32:00And when I say
32:01this, we want
32:02a judicial
32:02probe and we
32:03cannot have
32:04this fees
32:05to be, you
32:06know, levied
32:07upon the
32:08students for
32:09getting their
32:09answer sheets
32:10once again
32:10scanned or
32:11once again
32:12when they
32:12want to
32:13check their
32:13answers, let
32:14them weigh
32:15off the
32:15fees.
32:16And the
32:16BJP needs
32:17to answer
32:17why PCS
32:18was rejected
32:19over co-empt.
32:20Don't blame
32:20Congress and
32:21say, oh, you
32:22did this, oh,
32:22you did that.
32:23What are you
32:24doing?
32:24Why are you,
32:25if we have
32:25done a mistake,
32:26why are you
32:27following in
32:27our footsteps?
32:28You have come
32:29to power saying
32:30you are better
32:31than Congress.
32:32You keep, you
32:33know, tom-toming
32:33it every day
32:34saying, hey, we
32:35are better than
32:36Congress, we are
32:36better than
32:37Congress.
32:37you keep saying
32:38that, so prove
32:39it, walk the
32:40talk and tell
32:40us that you
32:41have our
32:42students' future
32:43at heart and
32:44please do not
32:45play with the
32:46future of our
32:47students.
32:471.2 crore
32:48students have
32:49been affected.
32:49is up and
32:50that's all the
32:51time we have
32:51for, you
32:52know, in the
32:52midst of all
32:53the politics
32:53and the
32:53controversies,
32:54collateral
32:55continue to be
32:55the students
32:56of this country.
32:57I thank all
32:57four of you
32:58for joining
32:58us.
32:59Appreciate it
33:00for taking
33:00the time out
33:01this evening.
33:01We will
33:01continue to
33:02follow the
33:02story.
33:03Before we
33:04move on,
33:04I'd like to
33:05just offer
33:05my two cents
33:06on my show.
33:06For every
33:07nation, there
33:08are few
33:09enduring ideas
33:10that bind
33:10together its
33:11conscience and
33:12collective belief
33:13system.
33:14Institutions
33:14may weaken,
33:15governments may
33:16falter,
33:17systems may
33:17collapse, but
33:18certain
33:19fundamental
33:19truths continue
33:20to hold a
33:21society together.
33:22In India, we
33:24all know,
33:24especially for
33:25its vast
33:26middle class,
33:27that enduring
33:27belief has
33:28always been
33:30merit.
33:31For generations,
33:32children across
33:32the country have
33:33grown up hearing
33:34the simple
33:35creed, study
33:36hard, work
33:37honestly, and
33:38results will
33:39follow.
33:40It was more
33:40than parental
33:41advice.
33:41It became a
33:43moral framework
33:43for us, a
33:44deeply internalized
33:45belief that while
33:46many things in
33:47society may be
33:48corruptible,
33:49merit and
33:50hard work would
33:51ultimately prevail,
33:52would pay off.
33:54And for the
33:55most part, life
33:56has reinforced
33:57that faith.
33:58When we worked
33:59hard, success
34:00often followed.
34:01When we failed,
34:02we usually
34:03understood why.
34:04The outcomes,
34:05however painful at
34:06times, still
34:06felt fair.
34:08They affirmed the
34:09values we were
34:10raised with.
34:11God helps those
34:12who help
34:12themselves, and
34:13the harder you
34:14work, the
34:14luckier you get.
34:15That is why
34:16the country
34:17collectively smiles
34:18at news headlines
34:20about a rickshaw
34:21puller's son
34:22topping neat, a
34:23domestic worker's
34:24daughter cracking
34:25IIT GEE, or a
34:27poor farmer's
34:28child excelling in
34:29board examinations.
34:30These stories were
34:31never just about
34:32individual triumphs,
34:34they were reaffirmations
34:35of a national
34:36belief that talent,
34:38perseverance, could
34:39still overcome
34:40circumstances.
34:42They kept alive the
34:43middle class's faith
34:44in meritocracy, but
34:46when that faith
34:47begins to fracture,
34:48the damage runs
34:49far deeper than
34:51outrage over a
34:52leaked examination
34:53paper.
34:54Today, repeated
34:55reports of
34:56compromised,
34:57competitive exams
34:58from the country's
34:59toughest entrance
35:00tests to even
35:01basic CBSC
35:02examinations are
35:03striking at
35:04something fundamental.
35:05They are not
35:06merely exposing
35:07administrative failure,
35:09they are eroding
35:09the moral contract
35:11that generations of
35:12Indians have lived
35:14by.
35:14Because when young
35:15people begin to
35:16believe that hard
35:18work alone is no
35:19longer enough, when
35:19parents start doubting
35:21whether sincerity can
35:22compete with
35:23corruption, and when
35:24merit itself appears
35:26negotiable, the
35:28consequences become
35:29existential for a
35:31society built on
35:32what?
35:33On aspiration and
35:34meritocracy.
35:35The angst, the
35:36anxiety and the
35:37despair surrounding
35:38exam paper leaks are
35:39therefore not
35:40disproportionate
35:41reactions.
35:41Their expressions
35:43offer deeper
35:44collective fear.
35:46The fear, the one
35:47institution ordinary
35:49Indians trusted above
35:50all, may no longer be
35:52trustworthy.
35:53The institution of
35:54meritocracy, where each
35:56parent, each child
35:57appearing for an exam
35:58was a stakeholder.
36:00And once a society
36:01loses faith in merit,
36:03what remains is not
36:04disappointment but
36:05disillusionment.
36:07A nation can survive
36:08poverty, it can survive
36:10political instability, it
36:11can even survive
36:12corruption for a time, but
36:14it cannot afford to lose
36:15faith in its core belief
36:17systems.
36:18That honest effort will
36:20eventually find reward
36:21because that belief is
36:23what keeps millions of
36:25Indians striving,
36:26sacrificing and hoping
36:27despite odds they will
36:29succeed.
36:30And in India, wherever we
36:31look, we know merit has
36:33always been our biggest
36:35success story.
36:36So if the government
36:37today is looking at
36:38roping in the armed
36:39forces to make sure
36:40there is no leak in
36:41the need to retest,
36:42then so be it.
36:44Because the kind of
36:45faction needed now to
36:47reinstill that belief
36:49needs to be on war
36:50footing.
36:53All right, with that,
36:54we quickly move on to
36:55the latest news break
36:56that is coming in.
36:57It's a big scoop from
36:58Karnataka on the new
36:59D.K.
37:00Shiv Kumar cabinet.
37:01India today has
37:01accessed probable names
37:03of new ministers.
37:04Sources say Siddharamaya's
37:06son, Yathindra, will be
37:07inducted.
37:08His aides, Siddharamaya's
37:09aides are Punanna, B.
37:11Suresh may get births,
37:12J. Parameshwara, Priyam
37:14Khadge to be retained,
37:15other probable names
37:16making the rounds.
37:17H.C.
37:18Maha
37:19Devappa,
37:20M.B.
37:21Patil Krishna,
37:24B.Y.
37:25Gowda,
37:26Santosh Lad,
37:27Dinesh Gundu Rao,
37:28Lakshmi H.
37:28Bilkar,
37:29Malinga Reddy,
37:31Rizwan Arshad,
37:32U.T.
37:32Khadar Sharath,
37:33Bachche Gowda
37:34are the names
37:35that are making
37:36the rounds a mix
37:37of especially
37:38the OBCs,
37:39the Dalits,
37:40Youngblood,
37:41something that
37:41Rahul Gandhi wanted.
37:43I want to cut across
37:44to my colleague
37:45Anaga Kesha
37:46who is breaking
37:46this news along
37:47with Rahul Gautam.
37:48Anaga,
37:49what's the word
37:50that's coming in
37:50from Karnataka?
37:53Well,
37:54in fact,
37:54the names
37:55that you just read out,
37:56most of them
37:56belong to
37:57Sidharamaya's faction.
37:58So therefore,
37:59even if
37:59D.K.
38:00Shiv Kumar
38:00does become
38:01the chief minister,
38:02he is at the end
38:03of the day
38:04surrounded by
38:05the close,
38:05strong aides
38:08of Sidharamaya.
38:09And that's why
38:09he also wants
38:10to make sure
38:11that he has
38:12an active role
38:13in state politics.
38:14in fact,
38:14we also do know
38:15that Sidharamaya
38:16is negotiating
38:17to form
38:18a state-level
38:18coordination committee
38:20between the party
38:21and the government
38:21to make sure
38:22that even though
38:23he is not a chief minister,
38:25he can still
38:25have a role
38:26to play in governance.
38:28In fact,
38:28last time
38:29that such a
38:29coordination committee
38:30existed
38:31was when
38:32J.D.
38:32Congress alliance
38:34existed in
38:35Karnataka.
38:36That was when
38:37because of lack
38:38of a majority government,
38:40such a coordination
38:40committee existed.
38:41But this time around,
38:42we do have a single
38:43majority government
38:44in Karnataka.
38:45The Congress
38:45High Command
38:46is reconsidering
38:47the ask
38:48that puts forward
38:49by Sidharamaya.
38:50But we still
38:51need to wait
38:52to see if
38:52indeed the High Command
38:53will budge
38:54and make sure
38:54that there is
38:55a state-level
38:56coordination committee
38:58for which
38:58Sidharamaya
38:59will be the chairman.
39:00Stay with me,
39:01Anaka.
39:01I want to bring in
39:02Rahul Gautam
39:02who is tracking
39:03the developments
39:03back here in Delhi.
39:04Rahul,
39:05it does seem
39:06that Sidharamaya
39:08might have stepped
39:08down from being
39:09chief minister,
39:10but he's got his way
39:11in multiple ways.
39:12Number one,
39:13son gets inducted
39:14in all probability
39:15into the cabinet.
39:17The strongman
39:19of Sidharamaya,
39:20his camp
39:21being inducted,
39:23retained,
39:23and also
39:26a coordination
39:26committee
39:27that he has
39:28asked for
39:28from the
39:29Central High Command
39:30will be established.
39:37is currently
39:38possessed by
39:39Sidharamaya
39:39because of the fact
39:41that he transferred
39:43the power
39:44without any hitch.
39:45There was no glitch.
39:47The power transition
39:48was absolutely smooth
39:50with one go.
39:51When Rahul Gandhi
39:52asked him to step down,
39:54he resigned.
39:55So clearly,
39:56the party
39:57wants to honor him
39:58and therefore,
39:59all the demands
40:00which are being
40:01put forward
40:01by Sidharamaya
40:02are being
40:03seriously considered.
40:05As far as
40:05Yatindra's cabin
40:07induction is concerned,
40:08you've been informed
40:09that it is being
40:10seriously looked into.
40:11Apart from this,
40:12there are several names
40:13that you
40:13yourself mentioned,
40:15you know,
40:15like Krishna Bairagora,
40:17MB Patel,
40:18K.J. George,
40:19G. Parmeshwara,
40:21UT Ghadar,
40:22Zameer Ahmed,
40:23all these people
40:24actually belong
40:25to the camp
40:25of Sidharamaya
40:26and therefore,
40:27he is strongly
40:27pushing these names
40:29that they should
40:29be inducted into
40:31cabinet.
40:32And also,
40:33this would also
40:34essentially give
40:34a control to
40:35Sidharamaya
40:36to push strings
40:38or to push things
40:39here and there.
40:39Then obviously,
40:40the coordination
40:40committee comes.
40:41Now,
40:42there are
40:43reservations
40:44of coordination
40:44also pointing out
40:45that it may send
40:46a wrong signal
40:47or wrong message
40:49to the state
40:50of Karnakshalaya.
40:50Despite the fact
40:51that Congress
40:52is the single
40:52largest party,
40:53they are having
40:53a coordination
40:54committee,
40:55is there not
40:55a coordination
40:56between government
40:57and a party
40:58and therefore,
40:59it may be a bad
41:00option.
41:01the third one
41:02is something
41:02which is being
41:05not on the table
41:06as I see,
41:07but the other
41:08two things
41:08are being seriously
41:09considered
41:10and being looked
41:11into.
41:11You have to
41:12understand that,
41:12you know,
41:14you know,
41:15Ramayya sitting
41:15in Bangaluru
41:17city as an
41:17ordinary MLA
41:18would not
41:19soothe
41:19Congress
41:20Party
41:20given the
41:21stature
41:21that
41:22Kinshidra Ramayya
41:23enjoys.
41:23One of the
41:25topmost,
41:25you know,
41:26OBC leaders
41:27of the
41:27Drakshar,
41:28one of the
41:28last mass
41:29leaders of
41:29Congress
41:30Party,
41:31you know,
41:32in South
41:32India,
41:33possibly in
41:33country also.
41:34Therefore,
41:34they would not
41:34want him
41:35to do this.
41:39All right,
41:39we seem to
41:40have lost
41:40your audio,
41:41Rahul.
41:42All right,
41:42Anagar and
41:42Rahul,
41:43thank you both
41:43for joining us.
41:44Clearly,
41:45the Congress
41:45may have
41:46settled Karnataka's
41:47leadership question,
41:48but the Power
41:48Balancing Act
41:49is getting more
41:50complicated.
41:51We threw some
41:52names there,
41:53mostly come in
41:53and support
41:54of Siddharamaya,
41:56technically the
41:56Siddharamaya camp.
41:57Is he getting
41:58his way a lot
41:59more than what
42:00DK Shipkumar might
42:01want?
42:01Well,
42:02just hours after
42:02stepping down
42:03as Chief
42:03Minister,
42:04Siddharamaya rushed
42:05to Delhi for a
42:05series of
42:06high-level
42:06meetings with
42:07Congress
42:07leadership,
42:08even as
42:08DK Shipkumar
42:10prepares to
42:11formally take
42:11charge from
42:12closed-door
42:13talks and
42:14public display
42:15of unity to
42:16cabinet
42:16negotiations.
42:17This is how
42:17it's all
42:18panned out.
42:23Just hours
42:24after resigning
42:25as Karnataka
42:26Chief Minister,
42:27Siddharamaya
42:27landed in Delhi
42:28for crucial
42:29consultations with
42:30the Congress
42:30leadership.
42:31The veteran
42:32leader held a
42:33one-on-one
42:33meeting with
42:34Rahul Gandhi
42:34and separately
42:35met Congress
42:36Chief Malik
42:37Arjun Khadge,
42:38KC Venugopal
42:39and DK
42:39Shipkumar.
42:40The meetings
42:41come at a
42:41time when the
42:42Congress is
42:42trying to ensure
42:43a smooth
42:43transition of
42:44power in
42:45Karnataka.
42:48In visuals
42:48packed with
42:49political messaging,
42:50Siddharamaya
42:51and DK
42:51Shipkumar were
42:52seen having
42:53lunch together
42:53in Delhi.
42:54The lunch
42:55meet,
42:55attended by
42:56former
42:56Karnataka
42:57Minister K.H.
42:58Muniappa,
42:58is being seen
42:59as a public
43:00show of unity
43:00after months
43:01of intense
43:02power tussle
43:02between the
43:03two camps.
43:04From breakfast
43:05politics in
43:06Bengaluru,
43:06the Congress
43:07has now moved
43:08to lunch
43:08diplomacy in
43:09Delhi.
43:11Sources say
43:12Siddharamaya
43:12handed over
43:13a letter to
43:14Rahul Gandhi
43:14containing key
43:15political demands.
43:17The list
43:17reportedly included
43:19names for
43:19Rajasabha seats
43:20and MLC
43:21nominations.
43:22Sources also
43:23say that
43:24Siddharamaya
43:24pushed for
43:24key portfolios
43:25for his son
43:26Yathindra
43:27Siddharamaya
43:27in the new
43:28cabinet.
43:29Among the
43:30ministries discussed
43:30were medical
43:31education,
43:32industries,
43:33backward classes
43:34and water
43:34resources.
43:36When asked
43:37about Siddharamaya's
43:38possible national
43:39role,
43:40Surjaywala said
43:40that clarity
43:41would emerge
43:41in the coming
43:42days.
44:03That statement
44:05assumes significance
44:06because Siddharamaya
44:07had only
44:07hours before
44:08publicly rejected
44:09the Congress
44:10leadership's
44:10reported push
44:11to move to
44:12Delhi.
44:13Siddharamaya
44:13says he
44:14wanted to
44:14continue working
44:15in Karnataka.
44:17For the
44:18Congress high
44:18command,
44:19the former
44:19chief minister
44:20remains a
44:21crucial political
44:21asset.
44:23Meanwhile,
44:24the focus
44:24has shifted
44:24to the shape
44:25of D.K.
44:26Shivakomar's
44:26government.
44:27Sources say
44:28that the
44:28Congress leadership
44:29is considering
44:30appointing two
44:31deputy chief
44:31ministers likely
44:32to represent
44:33the Lingayat
44:34and Dalit
44:34communities to
44:35maintain the
44:36caste and
44:36regional balance.
44:39Meanwhile,
44:39Governor
44:40Thawachand
44:40Gailot has
44:41officially accepted
44:42Sidharamaya's
44:43resignation,
44:44making him the
44:44caretaker chief
44:45minister and
44:46clearing the
44:46decks for
44:47Shivakomar's
44:47swearing-in.
44:50D.K.
44:51Shivakomar also
44:51separately met
44:52Malikaujun
44:53Khadge and
44:53is set to have
44:54discussed cabinet
44:54formation and
44:55power-sharing
44:56arrangements.
44:58The Congress
44:59legislature party
45:00meeting is
45:00scheduled for
45:014pm on the
45:0230th of May
45:02where D.K.
45:03Shivakomar is
45:04expected to be
45:04formally elected
45:05as their
45:06leader.
45:07Sources say
45:08May 31st,
45:10June 1st and
45:10June 3rd are
45:11being considered
45:12for the oath
45:13taking ceremony.
45:15But even as
45:16D.K.
45:17Shivakomar prepares
45:18to finally take
45:18charge, the
45:19Congress High
45:20Command faces
45:20the bigger
45:21challenge of
45:22balancing
45:22Sidharamaya's
45:23towering influence
45:24with the new
45:25power structure in
45:26Karnataka.
45:27With Akshita,
45:28Nagarjun,
45:28Sagai,
45:29Apoorva and
45:29Anaga in
45:30Bengaluru,
45:31Bureau Report,
45:32India Today.
45:35All right,
45:35we're going to
45:36keep you updated
45:36on that and
45:37the developments
45:38in Karnataka.
45:39Meanwhile,
45:40we want to
45:40shift focus and
45:41just want to
45:42apprise our
45:43viewers that
45:44unto the
45:44point, very
45:45often we're
45:46going to try
45:46and put the
45:47spotlight on a
45:47story that
45:48should but
45:49rarely finds
45:50the space.
45:51And for
45:52today, this
45:52is that story
45:53for us.
45:53A crop that
45:55influences kitchen
45:56budgets, even
45:56governments, is
45:57now at the
45:58center of a
45:59growing agrarian
45:59crisis in
46:00Maharashtra.
46:01In the
46:01state's key
46:02onion-producing
46:03regions, farmers
46:04say they are
46:04unable to
46:05recover the
46:05even basic
46:06cultivation cost
46:07as market
46:08prices continue
46:09to drop.
46:10The crisis has
46:11now triggered
46:12protests, road
46:13blocks, emergency
46:14talks between
46:15Maharashtra
46:16government and
46:16the center, from
46:17onions being
46:18dumped, burnt
46:19in despair, to
46:19demands for a
46:20long-term export
46:21policy and
46:22assured prices.
46:23This is no
46:23longer just a
46:25story about
46:25fluctuating rates.
46:27It is about
46:27mounting anger in
46:29rural Maharashtra
46:30and the growing
46:30fear that onion
46:32farming itself may
46:33become unsustainable.
46:37It is the
46:38humble onion that
46:39brings flavor to
46:40millions of Indian
46:41kitchens.
46:41But today, the
46:42farmers who grow it
46:44say survival itself
46:45has turned bitter.
46:47In Maharashtra's
46:48onion belt,
46:49Nashik and Pune,
46:50frustration is boiling
46:52over as prices crash
46:53to shocking lows.
46:55Unseasonal rain in some
46:57regions, scorching heat
46:58in others, and now a
47:00collapse in market prices.
47:01Farmers claim erratic
47:03export policies and
47:05weak market intervention
47:06have pushed them into
47:07a cycle of repeated
47:09losses.
47:10The center has now
47:12announced a procurement
47:13price of Rs 1,580 per
47:16quintal for the
47:172026 Rabi onion crop.
47:19But farmers say the
47:21relief falls far short
47:22of actual production
47:23costs.
47:24Farmers estimate that
47:26onion cultivation currently
47:27costs between Rs 20 and
47:29Rs 25 per kilogram.
47:31While market prices in
47:33many agricultural produced
47:34market committees or
47:36APMC's have crashed to
47:38between Rs 2 and Rs 6
47:39per kilogram.
47:41Farmers estimate that
47:42onion cultivation currently
47:43costs between Rs 20 and
47:45Rs 25 per kilogram.
47:47In some extreme cases,
47:50farmers claim they received
47:51only Rs 50 per kilogram
47:53after deductions.
47:54Now the price of Rs 95,000
47:58Rs.
47:59Now the rate of the market
48:01is Rs 11,12.
48:03I think it's
48:04that the government
48:05should give us
48:05to the price of
48:08We are looking for
48:08at least 30 Rs.
48:09and that we
48:10are looking for
48:23$20.
48:29The anger spilled onto the streets in Nashik's Chandwar, where onion growers, joined by political
48:36workers, staged a protest march and rasta rohko agitation.
49:10The protesters are demanding a fair support price linked to cultivation costs along with
49:16a stable export policy to prevent repeated price crashes.
49:22Just weeks ago, a distressed farmer, after receiving barely one rupee per kilogram for
49:27his produce, set nearly 600 sacks of onions on file.
49:32An image that has come to define Maharashtra's deepening onion crisis.
49:53As the agitation intensified, the Maharashtra government rushed to Delhi for high-level
49:58talks with the centre.
50:29Maharashtra Purnabhaitak is in Delhi.
50:29In meetings, uncertainty still hangs heavy over Maharashtra's onion farmers.
50:34For many, this is no longer just about falling prices.
50:37It is about whether farming itself can remain sustainable.
50:43With Omkar Wable, Malvika Murli, Bureau Report, India Today.
50:50With that report from Maharashtra, that's a wrap on this edition of news.
50:53We'll see you Monday.
50:54Have a good week.
50:55Thank you for joining us.
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