Government Introduces Anti-Exam Paper Leak Amendment Bill in Lok Sabha

Union Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Dr. Jitendra Singh introduced the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 in Lok Sabha on Wednesday, the eighth day of the Monsoon Session, moving to tighten a law enacted barely two years ago (PIB). The legislation seeks to amend the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, which was passed to curb question-paper leaks in public recruitment and entrance tests (prs_india-response). The legislative push follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement earlier in the day that the Cabinet would approve stricter action against paper leaks, signalling a renewed executive focus on examination integrity (PIB).

The Bill lands amid a month-long agitation by students that has developed into a significant political challenge for the government. On Tuesday, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra accused the BJP-led administration of failing to safeguard students’ futures and urged it to restore credibility by ensuring accountability for repeated leaks (Indian Express). She criticised the government’s approach to education reforms and dismissed the high-powered national task force announced by the Prime Minister, arguing that students were protesting to rebuild trust in the examination system rather than to weaken the government (Indian Express).

Parliamentary proceedings on Wednesday began with disruptions in both Houses. Lok Sabha was adjourned till noon shortly after Question Hour commenced, as Congress members objected to the absence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah (Indian Express). In Rajya Sabha, Opposition members raised slogans demanding a discussion on alleged police brutality during protests at Jantar Mantar. Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that people were no longer safe in the country and that democracy was not safe, demanding accountability over the police action (Indian Express). Responding to Kharge, Union Minister J.P. Nadda defended the police action, stating law enforcement had acted in accordance with the situation and recalling his own arrest as a student activist during the Emergency (Indian Express). Rajya Sabha was subsequently adjourned till 2 pm (Indian Express).

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is expected to speak on the Amendment Bill around 12:30 pm (Indian Express). Beyond the anti-leak legislation, the House is also scheduled to consider the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, with Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal set to move it for consideration and passage (Indian Express). Several ministers are slated to table official papers, and a motion seeking an extension for the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the One Nation, One Election Bills until the Winter Session of 2026 is also on the agenda (Indian Express). The government’s ability to pass the amended examination law will test whether the legislative response can quiet the street protests that prompted it.