Congress Schedules ‘Students’ Echo’ in Pune, Highlighting Exam and Job Concerns

The Indian National Congress announced that Rahul Gandhi will lead the next stop of the ‘Students’ Echo’ campaign in Pune on August 22, 2026. The program, which started in Kota on June 17, 2026, is designed to give a platform to students facing issues like paper leaks, cancelled examinations, delayed recruitment processes and persistent unemployment.

The event will run from 4:30 pm to 9:30 pm at the SSPMSS College ground near the RTO Chowk, with an anticipated audience of several thousand students, many of them women, who will engage directly with Gandhi.

Organisers stress that each city on the tour—Kota, Dehradun, Prayagraj and now Pune—serves as a pulse check on youth grievances across India. The Congress hopes the series will amplify these concerns in the lead‑up to upcoming elections.

While the rally proceeds, political opponents, including members of the BJP, have voiced criticism, particularly over the extensive set of police conditions imposed on the gathering.