In the aftermath of the Delhi protests, people have reignited debate not only over examination security, but also over the fundamental inequality of India’s meritocratic standards. As millions of students face some of the world’s most rigorous competitive exams for professions such as medicine, law, and civil services, they are increasingly looking at the parliament with a pointed question: why are those deciding their future not held to a similar standard? This frustration catalyzed a growing demand for a “PEET”—a Political Eligibility cum Entrance Test—to mirror the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) taken by medical aspirants.
The need for a higher standard of “education” and professionalism in Indian politics was recently exemplified by the public row between a sitting member of Parliament (MP), Kangana Ranaut, and spokespersons for the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). Following the 36-day agitation over NEET paper irregularities, Ranaut used social media to label Gen-Z protestors as the “gutter generation,” further targeting young women within those protests by calling them “ugly and corrupt”. CJP’s spokesperson hit back, questioning her conduct as a representative of the people.
This exchange highlighted the problem with the current Indian governance: a lack of basic understanding regarding the seriousness of legislative roles. When an elected representative lacks the manners and professionalism required for the public role, it reinforces the public perception that the current system is failing to protect people’s rights rather than infringing on them.
It is important to clarify that not having a formal degree is neither a crime nor is it something that should be inherently shamed. The history of Indian democracy includes many legendary leaders who, despite lacking formal schooling, possessed immense wisdom and a deep connection with the masses. For instance, K. Kamaraj—ex-Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu (1953-1963)—often referred to as a kingmaker for his influence over the country’s direction, despite dropping out of school after fifth grade to support his family.
True education serves as an instrument to awaken empathy, manners, and basic understanding. In a society as diverse and complex as India, education enables a representative to facilitate effective problem-solving and reach resolutions rather than resorting to crass insults and divisive rhetoric.
The statistical disparity between students and lawmakers is staggering. While medical and law aspirants must demonstrate mastery over various complex subjects, the educational profiles of India’s leadership are often minimal. Out of 643 ministers, roughly 26% have declared their qualification to be either illiterate, 5th-pass, or 8th-pass.
The ethical divide is perhaps even more jarring than the educational difference. While students are subject to strict tests, internal investigations, and strict codes of conduct, 47% of ministers have faced criminal cases against them. More alarmingly, 27% are facing serious criminal cases, involving murder, kidnapping, and crimes against women.
The irony can not be lost here. Individuals with records of looting money, forgery, murder, and more are tasked with handling billions of taxpayers’ money and drafting the very laws they are accused of breaking.
Implementing the proposed Political Eligibility Test would assess a candidate’s administrative capacity, intelligence, leadership skills, basic knowledge of the Constitution, as well as the constituency for which they are running. This exam would ensure that representatives are “educated” in a holistic sense–possessing empathy, critical thinking, and communication skills—serving as a critical filter. By making this test a prerequisite for contesting elections, the Election Commission of India could ensure that only those who pass a thorough criminal background test and an intellectual evaluation are allowed to lead. Moreover, character and qualification would take precedence over caste and wealth.
However, the path to a national merit exam for politicians is fraught with challenges. This test would marginalize the unprivileged sections of Indian society. In a country where government schools often fail to provide basic education, making academic degrees or educational tests to even contest in an electoral process would directly exclude millions of poor, rural citizens of India. Furthermore, implementing such a test would be costly and would face significant resistance from the sitting members of parliament. There is also the persistent hurdle of corruption, which undermines the integrity of the political exam just as it has with student examinations.
So, there might be better alternatives to this problem than one might imagine. The ultimate entrance exam for a representative should be a transparent assessment conducted by the voters themselves. First, mandating public debates to test their competence, knowledge of issues, and ability to handle pressure. Second, holding press conferences regularly with the media to ensure that politicians’ actions are constantly questioned and held accountable for their decisions that impact millions of aspirants’ futures.
Written by Arunima A
