Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday praised whistleblower student Sarthak Sidhant and his associate Nisarga Adhikary for exposing alleged irregularities in the Central Board of Secondary Education's (CBSE) on-screen marking system (OSM) tender process. Gandhi said the two young men had achieved what even major media organisations and investigative agencies had been unable to accomplish, highlighting their efforts to uncover alleged flaws in the system.

Sharing a video of his recent meeting with Sarthak on social media platform X, Gandhi commended the 18-year-old student's determination to question authority and seek answers despite his age. The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha described Sarthak as an example of the curiosity and courage that young people can bring to public life when they challenge existing systems and demand accountability.

In a Hindi post accompanying the video, Gandhi wrote that Sarthak's "mindset, courage, and principles" set him apart. "Sarthak is 18 years old, yet, in terms of mindset, courage, and principles, he is second to none," he said. The Congress leader suggested that the student's actions demonstrated the importance of independent thinking and civic engagement among India's youth.

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Referring to the broader role of young people in society, Gandhi contrasted what he described as efforts to encourage critical inquiry with what he alleged was a focus on social media engagement. He remarked that while some leaders wanted young people to create reels, students such as Sarthak were asking difficult questions and investigating issues of public importance. The comments appeared to be a criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the government's approach to youth engagement.

The controversy centres on allegations related to the CBSE's on-screen marking system tender process, which Sarthak and Adhikary reportedly examined in detail. Their findings have drawn attention on social media and in political circles, with supporters describing their work as an example of citizen-led scrutiny and transparency.

The episode has sparked discussion about the role of young whistleblowers and independent researchers in holding institutions accountable. Gandhi's endorsement of the students underscores the growing political focus on transparency, public oversight and the ability of individuals, particularly young people, to raise questions about the functioning of government and public bodies.

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