Acharya Prashant addresses the issue of the NEET exam controversy, stating that it is not an isolated incident but a symptom of a larger, long-standing problem in India's education and examination system. He recalls that even during his time at IIT, the IIT-JEE paper was leaked, and this has been happening for decades, causing students to suffer. He asserts that the current scam is just another link in a long chain of irregularities and scandals. The root of this problem, he explains, is that the education system and upbringing do not prepare students to find their own direction. Consequently, they become directionless and follow the herd, leading to a mad rush for a few coveted seats in fields like engineering and medicine. This, in turn, fuels the massive business of coaching institutes. The speaker points out that students are often pushed to two extremes. One is to blindly follow the crowd into coaching centers, and the other is to rebel and drop out to become an entrepreneur, inspired by glamorized stories. He argues that both paths are reactions born from a lack of self-awareness. He criticizes the social prestige attached to certain professions, calling it a modern form of casteism where families force their children into specific careers. The focus shifts from the work itself to merely attaining a position. He notes that even in top institutions like the IITs, not all graduates get placed, and the purpose of education has been wrongly reduced to just securing a livelihood. Acharya Prashant suggests that the solution lies in a fundamental cultural shift. He emphasizes that children should be given the freedom and support to explore their true interests from a young age, such as from the sixth grade. He says that parents should be aware of their child's inclinations; for instance, a child who loves comics should be encouraged in a literary direction rather than being forced into engineering. He states that the future belongs to those who can do what AI cannot, which is creative and heartfelt work. This requires an education centered on wisdom, a subject currently absent from the curriculum. He concludes that the problem is deeply rooted in the home environment, the education system, and the broader societal culture. He says that we say children will grow up on their own, but that is true only for animals; a human child has to be raised. This requires providing them with both external and internal education—education of the world and education of the self. Until there is a cultural change that values wisdom and allows individuals to find their own path, the youth will continue to suffer the consequences of a flawed system.
