‘Milestone legislation’ vs ‘Pradhan saved Pradhan Mantri’: Centre, Oppn clash as Lok Sabha debates new anti-paper leak bill – top developments

NEW DELHI: The Lok Sabha on Tuesday took up for discussion the Centre’s proposed legislation to amend the anti-paper leak law, amid nationwide calls for tougher safeguards against examination fraud and wider education reforms following the NEET (UG) question paper leak in May.Union minister Jitendra Singh introduced the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, on Monday after the first week of Parliament’s Monsoon session, which began on July 20, was washed out amid large-scale student protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). The demonstrations ultimately forced Dharmendra Pradhan to resign as education minister.No discussion on the Bill could take place during the first six days of the Monsoon session as the opposition remained firm on its demand for a government response to the police action against student protesters in the national capital and several other parts of the country.Following Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, Union minister Pralhad Joshi has been assigned additional charge of the Ministry of Education.

Bill reaffirms govt’s commitment to safeguard students’ welfare: Jitendra Singh

Opening the debate, Union minister Jitendra Singh described the proposed legislation as a “reaffirmation” of the government’s commitment to protecting students’ interests.Singh said the Bill seeks to amend the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, which he described as the first legislation of its kind in independent India.“The earlier Act and the amendment today are, in a way, a reaffirmation of this government’s deep commitment to safeguard the welfare of the students and the youth of this country,” he said.Calling it a “milestone legislation”, Singh added that the Bill also reflected Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s resolve “not to allow anyone to compromise with the future of the children of Mother India.”

Cong condemns Delhi Police action on protesters

Opening the debate for the opposition, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi criticised the BJP for garlanding former education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, alleging that 21 students had died by suicide after the NEET (UG) examination was cancelled following the question paper leak.Pradhan, was welcomed by MPs of the BJP-led NDA with garlands when he arrived in Parliament on Monday, two days after stepping down.“21 children lost their lives; they committed suicide. The minister under whose watch 21 children lost their lives, when he resigned from his post and returned to the House yesterday, you garlanded him as if he had returned from a war against Pakistan,” Gogoi remarked.Gogoi also took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Instagram reels he released for student protesters, saying the government had prioritised messaging over meaningful education reforms.“Today, the Prime Minister appears in Instagram reels. In the first Cabinet meeting, instead of having a comprehensive discussion on how to improve education and dismantle the paper-setting mafia, paper-solving mafia and the testing centre mafia, Prime Minister Modi simply said to focus more on Instagram,” Gogoi added.He also sought an explanation from the government over the alleged use of tear gas, pellet guns and lathi-charge against student protesters, including women.“Who ordered the use of tear gas, pellet guns, lathi-charge and assault on women? We want answers,” the Jorhat MP

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also took a swipe at the BJP over Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, saying the removal of “Pradhan” had saved the “Pradhan Mantri” (prime minister).“Imagine the immense relief the members must have felt and the major crisis from which they were saved. By removing one ‘Pradhan’, you effectively saved the ‘Pradhan Mantri’,” Yadav remarked, in a jibe at the government.Yadav also raised the issue of the alleged theft of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, questioning the BJP-led Uttar Pradesh government’s ability to prevent paper leaks.Referring to the alleged incident, the SP chief asked how those who had failed to prevent the theft of devotees’ offerings could be expected to stop question paper leaks.Yadav also described the CJP-led demonstrations as the first student agitation in which parents of the protesting students also participated.

PM Modi ‘clocked it’: BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj

Speaking in favour of the Bill during the debate, BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj said, “Borrowing Gen Z’s language, I would have to say that Modiji clocked it at providing this legislative solution.”“I am standing in support of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026. This is a transformative amendment. Its necessity is not only evident, but it is also the demand of the present time. Bringing this amendment is proof of the sensitivity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his committed government. Speaker Sir, when a competitive examination is compromised, its impact is not limited to the candidate whose future is put at stake,” she added.