I want to ask PM Modi and the Home Minister: what was the need to lathi-charge innocent students? Who ordered the use of pellet guns? Were these students terrorists? — Priyanka Gandhi

A big debate will be held in Parliament on the Anti-Paper Leak Bill, after several days of deadlock in the Lok Sabha today

New Delhi, 28 July 2026. The Lok Sabha is likely to take up a detailed discussion on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 (Anti-Paper Leak Bill) on Tuesday after the Monsoon Session of Parliament ended in a political stalemate for days. The government had introduced the bill in the Lok Sabha on Monday, but it could not be taken up for discussion due to uproar by the opposition.

On the initiative of the Lok Sabha Speaker, all major political parties have agreed to discuss this bill. About six hours have been allotted for the discussion on this important bill in the House.

Opposition hits out at government

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra accused the government of suppressing the voice of the youth. He said that so far no big mafia associated with paper leaks has been punished and there is a need for serious reforms in the education system. He also raised the issue of police action on students protesting outside Parliament.

Priyanka Gandhi said she has met the students injured in the lathicharge and questioned the government as to why there was a need to lathicharge and fire pellet guns on peaceful protesting students. He asked if the students demanding their rights were terrorists.

Akhilesh Yadav termed the youth movement as historic.

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav also hit out at the government, saying this was the first such movement against paper leaks in which students along with their parents joined in large numbers.

Referring to the removal of former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan from the Cabinet, he said the government tried to save the Prime Minister from political damage by removing a minister. Akhilesh said the unity and struggle of the youth forced the government to bow down.

What is Anti-Paper Leak Bill?

Introduced by Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Dr Jitendra Singh, the amendment bill proposes to make the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 more stringent.

The main provisions of the proposed amendment are as follows:

Punishment for leaking the question paper or using unfair means in the examination for a minimum of 5 years and up to a maximum of 10 years.
A fine of Rs 50 lakh each has been imposed on the convicts.
Minimum 7 years imprisonment in cases of organized paper leak gangs.
A fine of Rs 10 lakh can also be imposed in such cases.

The government says these stringent provisions are aimed at ensuring transparency in recruitment and entrance examinations and effectively curbing paper leak mafias.

Debate likely in House

During the discussion on the bill, the opposition is set to raise issues like NEET paper leak, alleged student suicides, police action on protesting students and shortcomings in the education system.

At the same time, the ruling party can make its stand by mentioning the steps taken by the government to make the examination system more transparent, the incidents of paper leaks in opposition-ruled states and the tenure of previous governments.

First week of monsoon session

The first week of the monsoon session of Parliament, which began on July 20, was marred by continuous opposition protests and ruckus, due to which no important legislative work could be done. Both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha were adjourned sine die on Monday over the issue of police action on protesting students.

All eyes are now on this discussion in the Lok Sabha, as this bill is considered to be an important step towards transparency, accountability and strict control over paper leaks in the examination system of the country.