The lament of the Human Resource Development minister that he had a sleepless night after the news “broke” of question-paper leaks in critical examinations of the Central Board of Secondary Education, would in normal course invite ridicule.

For, when compared with the trauma of the lakhs of students being “punished” by having to take the papers a second time around, it appears a case of trivialising a shameful exhibition of gross incompetence. Yet what Prakash Javadekar said only serves to highlight sarkari indifference to the agonies inflicted upon the common folk by governmental ineptitude.

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A sleepless night equates with a crocodile’s tears ~ particularly when neither the minister nor the chairperson of the CBSE accept personal responsibility for the fiasco and offer to quit. It only adds the proverbial insult to injury. No, we do not endorse the Congress’ claim for heads to roll, rather we condemn the political colour being given to the turmoil created in the lives of young students.

Can they be expected to have respect or confidence in such a flawed “system”? For when assessed against ground realities the claims and promises of the “leadership” ring hypocritically hollow. Alas, the common folk are virtually helpless ~ even the ballot box offers no hope of redemption: there is no certainty that the next government (if indeed an election facilitates that) will be any better, the track-record offers little hope or inspiration.

That the CBSE has become a parking-slot for political favourites is an open secret. The lack of accountability ensures inefficiency. In the last few years it has taken varying positions on the Class X examination, the bureaucrats and politicians impervious to the impact of their tinkering on students, teachers etc.

Ministers/officials may garner headlines for “revolutionary” changes, the mechanics of education go into a tailspin. Now there is talk of “digitizing” the examination process ~ only the Prime Minister believes that “technology” solves all problems.

Clearly, the CBSE has grown too “big” to handle huge numbers, over-centralisation may inflate some egos in New Delhi but it is time to explore the possibility of upgrading and standardising the quality of examinations/education provided by smaller boards, insulate them against parochial influences.

The future of our young folk cannot be jeopardised to serve political interests. The CBSE “leaks” have to be perceived not just in the context of other leaks but the general evaporation of competence in governmental affairs ~ as reflected in the travails over demonitisation, implementation of GST, expansion of Aadhaar coverage, banking-sector frauds, containing militancy, … the list is endless.

The short-point is that while the NDA’s vote-garnering machine is super-efficient, its “delivery mechanisms” are proving pathetic. And none in authority has the guts to point that out to Mr Narendra Modi. The fall-out of sycophancy.