Is India’s Education System a Scam? The Harsh Truth Behind NEET Leaks, High Fees & Broken Dreams,How Corruption, Rote Learning & Inequality Fail Our Students”

The Indian Education System: Progress, Pitfalls, and the “Scam” Debate

India’s education system—long celebrated for producing global talent in science, technology, and business—faces growing criticism at home. From exam paper leaks and rising commercialization to the limitations of rote learning, many argue that the system functions less as a tool for empowerment and more as a costly “scam.” While the government has implemented major policies such as the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, aiming to modernize learning and ensure inclusivity, persistent challenges continue to undermine public trust.

Corruption and Exam Scandals: The New Crisis

One of the most significant concerns in Indian education today is corruption in competitive examinations. In 2024 and 2025, controversies around the National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts exams like NEET (medical entrance) and JEE (engineering entrance), sparked nationwide outrage. Instances of paper leaks, impersonation, and result manipulation showed systemic vulnerabilities.

According to media reports and court investigations, several exam paper leaks were traced to organized networks, leading to CBI investigations and widespread student protests. Reports indicate that over 24 lakh candidates appear for NEET annually, with even a single breach affecting thousands. Such incidents shake confidence in meritocracy and create a perception that success depends more on access and privilege than talent.

This breeds a sense of injustice among honest students who spend years preparing. Moreover, delayed accountability—often seen in slow or opaque investigations—reinforces the idea that corruption is institutional, not accidental.

Rote Learning and Outdated Curriculum

Another major criticism is the emphasis on rote learning, where success is measured by memorization rather than understanding. The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2023 highlighted that while literacy rates have improved, only 50% of Grade 5 students in rural India could read a Grade 2-level text. This reflects a foundational learning gap that persists into higher education.

Across schools and colleges, much of India’s academic structure is exam-centric, rewarding those who reproduce textbook content instead of applying conceptual knowledge. As a result, many graduates emerge with degrees but without the critical thinking or practical skills needed for the job market.

This issue directly affects employability. A 2023 India Skills Report found that only 49% of Indian graduates were deemed employable by leading recruiters. Industries demand digital literacy, communication skills, and problem-solving ability—traits seldom emphasized in traditional schooling.

The High Cost of Commercialization

Education in India has increasingly become a profit-driven enterprise. With public institutions struggling for funds and capacity, private institutions have expanded rapidly. The All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE 2023) reported over 43,000 colleges and 1,100 universities, with nearly 78% privately managed. Tuition fees in top private institutions can exceed ₹10–15 lakh per year, making them unaffordable for average families.

Meanwhile, coaching centers have become parallel institutions, especially in cities like Kota and Hyderabad. The coaching industry, valued at over ₹58,000 crore (2023), thrives on students’ fears of failure in competitive exams. Tragically, the pressure has taken a toll: Kota alone recorded 26 student suicides in 2024, the highest number in a decade.

This growing commercialization fosters inequality—students from affluent families access premium education and training, while others struggle in underfunded government schools.

Inequality and Regional Disparity

India’s rapid educational expansion hides deep urban-rural and public-private divides. While metropolitan schools boast smart classrooms, international curricula, and extracurricular development, many rural schools still suffer from teacher shortages and poor infrastructure. According to UNESCO’s 2024 data, nearly 20% of rural schools operate with a single teacher, and 14% lack functional toilets for girls, contributing to dropouts.

Even in higher education, institutions like IITs and AIIMS set global standards, but millions of students remain in low-quality colleges with outdated syllabi and limited job connections. This imbalance reinforces social inequality, where the chance of success depends heavily on one’s socio-economic background.

The Pressure Cooker: Mental Health and the “Rat Race”

Indian education has become synonymous with immense academic pressure. Parents often view board exams and entrance tests as make-or-break moments for their children’s futures, resulting in stress, anxiety, and burnout.

A National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report in 2023 revealed that over 13,000 students died by suicide in India in a single year, a 6% rise from 2022. Most were linked to academic stress and exam results. Despite growing dialogue about mental health, schools and colleges often lack trained counselors or emotional support systems.

This relentless focus on marks, rather than personal growth or creativity, perpetuates the idea that education is a high-stakes gamble—one that fails to promise lasting reward for many.

The “Scam” Perception: Systemic Failings and Lost Trust

When students see widespread corruption, commercialization, and unemployment despite high degrees, it’s not surprising that many call the system a “scam.” The perception stems from:

Exam corruption and unfair practices, undermining merit.

Skyrocketing education costs, limiting access to quality learning.

Mismatch between academic credentials and employability.

Persistent inequality, where opportunity is not evenly distributed.

Education, envisioned as the ultimate ladder for social mobility, often becomes an economic burden instead. Families spend lakhs on coaching and college fees without assured outcomes, leaving many disillusioned.

Government Reforms and NEP 2020: A Step Forward

Despite deep-rooted problems, the government has taken notable reform steps. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the first major reform since 1986, aims to make Indian education “holistic, flexible, multidisciplinary, and aligned with the 21st century.”

Key NEP 2020 reforms include:

Replacing the 10+2 structure with a 5+3+3+4 framework.

Introduction of skills-based learning, coding, and vocational education from early grades.

Emphasis on mother tongue instruction until Grade 5 for conceptual clarity.

Expanding Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education to 50% by 2035 (from 28% in 2022).

Encouraging digital learning and teacher training reforms.

The policy has driven efforts like the National Digital Education Architecture (NDEAR) and the DIKSHA platform, which enhance online learning and teacher support. However, implementation remains uneven across states, and experts warn that without stronger regulation and accountability, reforms may not overcome systemic inertia.

Signs of Progress Amidst Crisis

Despite criticism, India has made commendable progress in literacy, access, and academic research. Literacy rates climbed from 12% in 1947 to over 77% in 2024, and female enrolment in higher education now exceeds 49%, indicating growing gender parity. India also ranks among the top five nations globally in STEM graduates, producing over 2.5 million engineers annually.

Institutions like the IISc, IITs, and IIMs maintain global reputations, fueling India’s technology and innovation sectors. The country’s education ecosystem has undeniably contributed to its rise as a global knowledge economy—though that success shines brightest at the top, not throughout the system.

The Way Forward: A System in Transition

To rebuild faith in education, India needs structural accountability, transparent exams, equitable funding, and mental health support. Reducing dependence on rote learning and integrating real-world skill development are critical. Rural digital inclusion, data-driven governance, and regular curriculum innovation must drive the next phase of reform.

Ultimately, India’s education system stands at a crossroads: one path leads to inclusive, competency-based learning; the other, to an ever-widening gap between aspiration and opportunity.

To make education a true instrument of empowerment, not exploitation, the system must put students’ welfare, integrity, and learning outcomes back at its center. Only then can India’s education evolve from being labeled a “scam” to being celebrated as a foundation for equitable progress.