India is deploying military aircraft to transport national examination papers as part of an emergency effort to restore confidence in its education system following a series of exam scandals that have triggered public anger and political pressure on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The measures come after authorities last month cancelled the results of a medical entrance examination involving more than 2 million students, following allegations of widespread paper leaks. The decision to annul the results marked one of the most extensive disruptions to India’s competitive exam system in recent years, highlighting concerns over the integrity of high-stakes testing.
For the upcoming retest scheduled on June 21, officials confirmed that the Indian Air Force will be used to transport question papers for the first time. According to officials familiar with the arrangements, helicopters will deliver exam materials to more than two dozen locations under tight security. Individuals involved in setting the exams will also be placed under strict surveillance, with restrictions on phone usage and communication imposed to prevent further leaks.
The escalation in security measures reflects broader efforts by New Delhi to contain fallout from multiple controversies affecting the education sector. Alongside the entrance exam scandal, the government is also dealing with complaints over incorrect school marks linked to a new online evaluation system. Together, these issues have contributed to growing public discontent, particularly among young people.
The controversies have sparked protests and fueled a political movement referred to as the Cockroach Janta Party, which has called for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The minister has said that the government is working to address the issues and restore credibility to the examination process, stating that the prime minister is personally monitoring the situation. However, he has not responded to calls for his resignation.
The examination system plays a central role in India’s education and employment structure, serving as a gateway to universities and professional opportunities. The stakes are particularly high given that unemployment among individuals aged 25 to 29 is estimated at about 20 per cent, according to data cited from Azim Premji University.
In response to the crisis, authorities have tightened controls around the printing and handling of exam papers, creating secured environments for production facilities and restricting movement and communication among staff involved in exam preparation. India’s Central Bureau of Investigation has also launched an inquiry into the alleged medical entrance exam paper leak.
The decision to involve the Indian Air Force has drawn mixed reactions. Officials said the military is operating under its aid-to-civil-authority mandate to support the secure transportation of exam materials. Critics, however, have questioned the use of defence resources for administrative functions, arguing that it reflects deeper structural weaknesses in the examination system.
Retired Air Vice Marshal Manmohan Bahadur wrote in an opinion piece that the air force should not be used as a courier service and suggested that the focus should instead be on fixing systemic flaws in exam administration. His remarks reflect broader concerns that reliance on extraordinary measures may not address underlying governance issues.
Opposition parties, including the Indian National Congress, have also seized on the controversy to criticize the government, framing the exam failures as evidence of institutional breakdown. Political analysts have warned that repeated irregularities in key public examinations risk undermining trust in merit-based systems.
Yamini Aiyar, a visiting fellow at Brown University, said the repeated failures in maintaining exam integrity raise questions about public confidence in state institutions. She said the perception that examinations are no longer fair could weaken trust in systems that are central to social mobility and cohesion.
The government has maintained that the situation is temporary and expects the problems to be resolved through ongoing investigations and stricter security protocols. However, with large-scale retests imminent and scrutiny intensifying, pressure remains high on authorities to prevent further breaches in one of the country’s most sensitive and consequential administrative processes.
