It all started during a live debate broadcast on 29-30 May, where a senior journalist and managing editor of Aajtak, named Anjana Om Kashyap, said that India’s most followed educators are ‘do kaude ke’(not worth 2 pennies) and called them “Big Frauds”.
During the live debate, she accused YouTube teachers of having no real knowledge, claiming they sketch things on blackboards not to educate students but to "grab views, do drama, and make money." She stated that these teachers lack depth in subject matter or adequate academic qualifications, yet reach millions of students through attractive thumbnails, sensational language, and misleading claims. She also mentioned that the rise of such educators is the reason for the decline in quality education, which is the reason that most of the students are pushed into coaching centres.
The controversy was sparked by growing questions about the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak and the examination system, with many YouTube teachers openly criticising the government and examination agencies in favour of students. Many observers noted that Anjana's attack on YouTube teachers came precisely when those very teachers were holding the establishment accountable for the leak of the paper.
Some of the teachers raised their voices against these statements -
Khan Sir, one of the most beloved online educators, reacted strongly, saying: "Shikshak ko keh rahi hai inko kuch nahi aata, to tum padhaao aake”, essentially challenging her: if she thinks teachers know nothing, she should come and teach the students herself.
Abhinay Sharma, creator of the Abhinay Maths channel, fired back by asking: if YouTube educators are worthless, then who has been preparing millions of students for exams like NEET, UPSC, SSC, and JEE over the past several years?
Suman Ma'am pointed out that Anjana Om Kashyap, who should be an icon to people, was sitting in an air-conditioned studio calling them frauds, while also accusing the anchor of chasing TRP rather than covering real problems like student unemployment or paper leaks.
The controversy included the reactions from students, where many students shared their personal stories of how online educators had helped them clear competitive examinations. The sentiment captured in one YouTube Short title was: "YouTube teachers ko chota bolna aasaan hai, lekin un bache se puchiye jisne gaon mein baith kar pehli baar kisi acche teacher se padhai ki" (It's easy to belittle YouTube teachers, but ask the child in a village who studied under a good teacher for the first time sitting there).
Critics noted that these remarks did not target the specific bad actors but involved the whole community of online educators. As of May 31, 2026, neither Anjana Om Kashyap nor the channel that aired the debate had issued any public apology or clarification. Hashtags continued to trend on social media, with educator videos stacking up online.
The controversy essentially became a mainstream media vs. digital education debate. On one side, a powerful primetime anchor with institutional credibility. On the other hand, teachers who have democratised access to quality education for crores of students, especially from small towns, villages, and lower-
low-income families who cannot afford elite coaching institutes. The irony of an anchor in a studio calling blackboard teachers frauds while being accused of TRP-chasing was not lost on the internet.
Although many of us has different views upon this debate but we cannot ignore the fact that some of the educators and mentors available online have helped millions of students, maybe some of the educators are fraud and just trick students for the fact of money but this cannot be applied to whole industry and we cannot deny the fact that some of the most prominent educators have made quality of education affordable to the students who cannot afford books. And the question was not who wins the debate, but whether people should not criticise someone or issue any statements against someone without the evidence and the actual proof.
References:
- The live Nagpur
- Mission Ki Awaaz
- Hauterrfly
- The Jan post