Earlier this month, China also conducted its biggest national exam for college admissions, the Gaokao (literally, “the highest exam”), with over 1.3 crore students. A spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in India shared a post on X, stating that “The #Gaokao is one of the most important exams for millions of Chinese students — and what makes it remarkable is its fairness… Students know their hard work truly pays off, because the process is strictly regulated and the road to academic success is not rigged.” Involving everything from a pause in construction activities, sports venues and Opera houses to heavy police deployment, the Gaokao is serious business. In the past, the likes of Stephen Hawking and David Beckham have posted messages on social media, wishing Chinese students success in the exam. For students, it offers an opportunity to secure admission into the country’s top colleges and holds the promise of upward social mobility. For the state, its planning — and the weightage given to certain subjects — indicate the government’s broader priorities. Teachers under supervision, …