The Lok Sabha was adjourned after repeated disruptions as appeals by Chair and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju for debate on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, went unheard, while Rajya Sabha also witnessed persistent pandemonium.
The Lok Sabha was adjourned till Tuesday after repeated disruptions and persistent sloganeering by Opposition members prevented discussion on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, a legislation aimed at strengthening the legal framework against examination paper leaks and protecting the interests of millions of students across the country.
The House reconvened at 5 p.m. on Monday with the expectation of holding an extensive debate on the proposed anti-paper leak legislation. However, despite repeated appeals from the Chair and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, the Opposition continued its protests, leaving the House unable to conduct any legislative business.
Presiding over the proceedings, Krishna Prasad Tenneti urged members to maintain order and participate in what he described as a discussion of “national importance.” He stressed that the proposed legislation would have a direct bearing on the future of the country’s youth and deserved a meaningful debate rather than disruption.
Addressing the House, Tenneti appealed to Opposition members to put aside their placards and allow Parliament to deliberate on the bill. He assured all members that they would have adequate opportunity to express their views, raise concerns, and suggest amendments during the debate.
Despite these appeals, noisy scenes and continuous sloganeering persisted from the Opposition benches, preventing normal proceedings.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju also made a strong appeal to members, reminding them that the legislation had been introduced following repeated demands from the Opposition itself for a tougher law against examination paper leaks.
He stated that members from both the Treasury and Opposition benches had prepared extensively for what was expected to be a marathon discussion on the bill. According to Rijiju, it was disappointing that those who had consistently sought a stricter law were now disrupting the House when the government had brought forward the legislation.
“The future of lakhs of students is associated with this important bill,” Rijiju said, urging all parties to rise above political differences and engage in constructive debate.
The minister specifically appealed to Congress lawmakers to refrain from creating disruptions and instead contribute meaningfully to discussions concerning the future of students and the integrity of India’s public examination system.
Rijiju also pointed out that Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla had already announced an extension of the debate by six hours to ensure comprehensive discussion on the legislation. Despite this flexibility, repeated interruptions made it impossible for the House to proceed.
Chairman Tenneti once again attempted to restore order, reminding members that copies of the proposed legislation had already been circulated well in advance to all Members of Parliament, including those in the Opposition.
Questioning the continued protests, he asked whether members did not wish to discuss an issue that had become a matter of national concern among students and their families.
“This House has been waiting for this discussion for a long time,” Tenneti observed while urging lawmakers to fulfil their legislative responsibilities.
With no improvement in the situation and the uproar continuing unabated, Tenneti finally adjourned the Lok Sabha until 11 a.m. on Tuesday.
Earlier during the day, the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, had been formally introduced in the Lok Sabha by Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh. The proposed legislation seeks to strengthen legal provisions against unfair practices in public examinations, including paper leaks, which have emerged as a significant challenge affecting recruitment examinations and academic institutions across the country.
The disruption was not limited to the Lok Sabha. The Rajya Sabha also witnessed repeated interruptions throughout the day, forcing the Upper House to be adjourned after it reassembled at 5.15 p.m.
Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh had announced that the House would begin discussion on the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Amendment Bill, 2026. However, continued protests from Opposition members prevented any meaningful debate.
Intervening during the proceedings, Kiren Rijiju expressed disappointment that Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge had not directed Opposition members to allow discussion on the anti-paper leak legislation, despite repeatedly emphasising the importance of safeguarding students’ interests.
Rijiju noted that the Business Advisory Committee had already allocated time for discussion of the legislation in the Lok Sabha and that the government had appealed in both Houses for a constructive debate.
He recalled that both the government and the Prime Minister had assured young people across the country that a stronger legal framework would be introduced to deal firmly with examination paper leaks. According to the minister, both the anti-paper leak legislation and the proposed National Honour amendment deserved serious parliamentary deliberation rather than disruption.
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Responding to Rijiju’s remarks, Mallikarjun Kharge stated that the Opposition was prepared to participate in discussions, provided Home Minister Amit Shah appeared before the House and made a statement explaining the alleged police lathi-charge on students.
Despite this response, Opposition members continued raising slogans, making it impossible for the Chair to conduct proceedings. Seeing no possibility of restoring order, the Deputy Chairman adjourned the Rajya Sabha for the day.
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The repeated disruptions in both Houses once again prevented Parliament from carrying forward key legislative business during the ongoing Monsoon Session, with the proposed anti-paper leak law—considered significant for protecting the credibility of public examinations and the future of millions of students—remaining undebated amid continuing political confrontation between the government and the Opposition.
