Govt tables revamped anti-paper leak bill in Lok Sabha amid opposition protests

High drama unfolded in the Lok Sabha on Monday as Union Minister Jitendra Singh introduced The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, aimed at tightening laws against paper leaks. The newly tabled legislation introduces stringent provisions, including fast-track courts to complete trials within three months, two-month deadlines for probes by central agencies, and heavy financial penalties of up to 5 crore rupees alongside eight-year bans for offending service providers. The government presented the measure as a decisive step to rebuild trust in competitive examinations following nationwide student agitations.

However, the legislative proceedings were quickly disrupted by intense sloganeering from INDIA bloc MPs, who marched to the well of the House demanding accountability. Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Akhilesh Yadav, demonstrated inside the Parliament complex to protest the alleged use of excessive force, tear gas, and pellet guns against protesting students on July 20. Multiple Opposition MPs submitted formal notices seeking the suspension of business to discuss the student crackdown and demand answers from Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

The standoff led to repeated adjournments in both Houses as the Opposition refused to back down despite the government’s recent leadership changes in the Education Ministry. In a formal letter to the Home Minister, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi demanded an independent inquiry, medical assistance, and financial compensation for injured students. With both Houses adjourned, the government faces a tough challenge in passing its legislative agenda while the Opposition continues to press for student rights and police accountability.