Ending a week-long logjam, the Lok Sabha on Tuesday began a discussion on the anti-paper leak Bill, with Union minister Jitendra Singh describing it as a reaffirmation of the government's commitment to safeguard the welfare of students and the youth.
Speaking on the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, the minister of state in the PMO said the Modi government finished an unaccomplished task to bring a law to prevent examination malpractices in 2024.
"Incidents of paper leaks have taken place in various states ruled by different parties... The anti-paper leak Bill is a reaffirmation of the government's commitment to safeguard the welfare of students and youth. The amendment... (is being) brought to make the law more stringent," Singh said.
RSP MP N K Premchandran moved that the Bill should be circulated for stakeholder consultations till December 1, so that it can be made more fruitful.The government introduced the Bill in the Lok Sabha on Monday, days after student protests over the NEET fiasco led to Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation as education minister, to provide for stricter punishment of up to 10 years in jail and a heftier fine of Rs 50 lakh for paper leaks.
The Bill was introduced by Singh amid sloganeering by the opposition demanding a response from the government over the police crackdown on students during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led July 20 protest march to Parliament.
However, no discussion could take place on the Bill amid the din on Monday.The opposition has been raking up the NEET paper leak issue since the Monsoon session began on July 20. As a result, no legislative business could be taken up until Monday, except for the introduction of two Bills.
Earlier in the day, Lok Sabha was adjourned till 2 p.m. on Tuesday after repeated disruptions by Opposition members, who raised slogans during the Question Hour.Speaker Om Birla began the day’s proceedings by congratulating India’s medal winners at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow before urging members to allow the House to function and participate in a discussion on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, scheduled for 2 p.m.
Appealing for a constructive debate, Birla said Parliament should send a positive message to the country through dialogue. He also informed the House that an understanding had been reached among political parties to take up the anti-paper leak legislation at 2 p.m. and urged members to cooperate so that the discussion could proceed smoothly.
“Let the House function; let there be discussion and dialogue, and let everyone’s views be expressed. Let a positive message go out to the entire country that discussion and dialogue take place in Parliament,” the Speaker said. Despite the Speaker’s appeal, Opposition members continued raising slogans, forcing the adjournment of the House till 2 p.m.
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