Congress Leader Questions Appointment of IAS Officer Amid Controversy

Jairam Ramesh, a senior Congress leader, has raised serious concerns regarding the appointment of IAS officer Naresh Pal Gangwar as the new Secretary of Education. He highlighted alleged irregularities during Gangwar's previous role and criticized the government's integrity in light of recent events, including the CBI's findings on the NEET paper leak case. Ramesh's comments reflect broader issues of accountability and transparency within the NDA government, questioning the motivations behind such appointments and the effectiveness of proposed fast-track courts for addressing paper leak controversies. This article delves into the implications of these developments on the education sector and political landscape.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 24, 2026, 17:32 IST

Concerns Raised Over New Education Secretary's Appointment

Senior Congress figure Jairam Ramesh has expressed concerns regarding the central government's decision to appoint IAS officer Naresh Pal Gangwar as the new Secretary of Education. He pointed to alleged irregularities related to subsidies during Gangwar's tenure as Secretary of the Animal Husbandry and Dairy Department. In a post on social media, Ramesh criticized the government, particularly in light of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) stating that it found no evidence linking Sanjeev Kumar, also known as Sanjeev Mukhiya, to the NEET (UG) 2024 paper leak case. Ramesh argued that these incidents raise serious questions about the integrity of the NDA government.

Allegations of Corruption and Political Connections

Ramesh noted that two significant events in the past 24 hours have further cast doubt on the government's honesty regarding the education system and actions taken in paper leak cases. He highlighted the transfer of the Higher Education Secretary and the appointment of an official whose family members allegedly received substantial subsidies from the Agriculture Ministry while he was a senior official in the Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, and Dairy Ministry.

CBI's Clean Chit Raises Eyebrows

He further mentioned that the CBI has cleared 'Sanjeev Mukhiya', who was previously labeled as the mastermind behind the NEET-UG 2024 paper leak. Interestingly, his wife had contested the Bihar Assembly elections on a ticket from the LJP, a key ally of the NDA. Amid the controversy surrounding the NEET-UG paper leak and calls for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Naresh Pal Gangwar was appointed as the Secretary of Higher Education late Thursday night, while Vineet Joshi was reassigned to the Panchayati Raj Department.

Critique of Fast-Track Courts

In another post, Ramesh criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement regarding the establishment of fast-track courts for paper leak cases, labeling it as a 'hollow' decision made in a 'midnight panic.' He argued that fast-track courts could be established under existing laws without amendments. Ramesh questioned the government's intentions, asserting that such courts would only be effective if investigations are conducted within a set timeframe and with genuine political will.

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