Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Sunday extended support to protesting students in Maharashtra, saying their concerns reflected a wider loss of trust in the system and questioning the BJP-led government’s handling of issues related to examinations and recruitment.

Gandhi said thousands of students were protesting over concerns including alleged paper leaks, delays in recruitment processes and rising education-related costs. He claimed that repeated problems had affected the confidence of young candidates preparing for government examinations.

The Congress leader criticised the functioning of the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC), alleging that the credibility of recruitment systems had been affected. He called on the government to listen to students and take steps to address their concerns.

The protests have centred around allegations of irregularities in competitive examinations and demands for greater transparency in recruitment processes. Authorities have said that examination systems are being reviewed to improve security and reliability.

Gandhi also raised broader issues related to student welfare, including recruitment delays, education expenses, hostel facilities and other challenges faced by young people.

The BJP-led government has faced criticism from opposition parties over examination-related concerns, while officials have maintained that steps are being taken to strengthen the recruitment process and prevent malpractices.

The Maharashtra government has constituted a high-level committee to examine the recruitment examination system and suggest measures to make it more transparent and candidate-friendly. The panel is expected to take feedback from students, parents, educators and other stakeholders.

The issue has become a political flashpoint, with the Congress presenting the student protests as a sign of dissatisfaction among young people, while the government faces pressure to ensure confidence in competitive examination procedures.