The eighth day of Parliament's Monsoon Session on Thursday witnessed repeated disruptions in both Houses amid Opposition protests over the crackdown on student protesters during the July 20 march.
The Rajya Sabha cleared the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, a day after it was passed by the Lok Sabha.
During the debate, LoP in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge accused the government of bringing the amendment only to pacify agitating students rather than address the root causes of paper leaks. He argued that the legislation failed to explain how examinations would be conducted in a manner that would prevent future leaks.
Meanwhile, the Lok Sabha witnessed multiple adjournments amid Opposition protests over the crackdown on student protesters and the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
The House later passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, popularly known as the Vande Mataram Bill, by a voice vote amid uproar before adjourning till 11 am on Friday.
Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 2 pm on Thursday, minutes after the House convened, amid slogan-shouting by the Opposition over various issues.
Speaker Om Birla urged the members to let the Question Hour continue, but faced with an unbudging Opposition, he adjourned the House till 2 pm.
Opposition MPs on Thursday began a protest at Makar Dwar in the Parliament complex over the alleged police action against student protesters and the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
MPs from several INDIA bloc parties gathered at Makar Dwar, holding placards questioning who gave the orders for the alleged police action against student protesters at Delhi's Jantar Mantar on July 20.
The MPs also raised slogans demanding accountability from the Centre over the alleged use of force against students and the alleged financial irregularities in donations made to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya.
Opposition parties led by the Congress walked out of the Rajya Sabha on Thursday after their demand for Home Minister Amit Shah to make a statement on allegations that police used brutal force against students protesting the alleged leak of the medical entrance examination NEET was declined.
Soon after listed papers were laid on the table of the House, opposition members raised slogans demanding that Shah come to the House and explain the police action on July 20.
The opposition parties then staged a walkout after their demand was not met.
Following the walkout, Leader of the House and Union Minister J P Nadda said the opposition's conduct since the start of the Monsoon Session on July 20 had been negative.
"They have been disrupting the House and not allowing it to function," he said. "Opposition is issue-less and they keep changing the goal posts." He said the government was ready for discussion on all issues and noted that a bill to prevent paper leaks was listed for discussion.
"They keep changing the goal posts," he said. Nadda condemned the opposition's conduct as irresponsible.
The House continued with the listed business after the opposition walkout.
Union minister Jitendra Singh has introduced the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, in Rajya Sabha for consideration and passing.
The Bill, which seeks to strengthen the legal framework against paper leaks and examination malpractices, was passed by the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned for the second time on Thursday amid continuing uproar by the Opposition.
The House was adjourned till 3 pm after laying of Parliamentary documents by ministers.
Earlier, Speaker Om Birla urged the members to let the Question Hour continue, but when his pleas were ignored, he adjourned the House till 2 pm.
On Wednesday as well, the Question Hour could not function.
However, the bill to amend the anti-paper leaks law, with provisions for stricter punishments, was passed by voice vote.
After introducing the anti-paper leak Bill in the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister of State Jitendra Singh said the Modi government had completed the "unfinished task" of setting up the National Testing Agency (NTA), an idea first proposed in 1992.
Singh said the idea of setting up the NTA was first proposed in 1992 and reiterated by several committees, including one in 2010, adding that it was "ironic" the proposal remained unimplemented for over three decades.
"It is ironic that the idea of creating a National Testing Agency was first proposed in 1992, nearly 33 years ago. It was under the Congress government at the Centre. The concept was reiterated by several committees over the years, and in 2010, too, a committee strongly recommended setting up such an agency. I am sure the they (Opposition) will appreciate and thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the unfinished task is being completed," Singh told the House.
VIDEO | Delhi: Speaking in the Rajya Sabha while introducing the Anti-Paper Leak Bill, Minister of State Jitendra Singh said, "...We have 4 main recruitment agencies that conduct examinations for different sectors, such as the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), the Railway… pic.twitter.com/8AyHnv8U9V
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 30, 2026
Speaking on the Anti-Paper Leak Bill in the Rajya Sabha, Union MoS Jitendra Singh said the government had brought the amendments in "right earnest" as it has "zero tolerance" towards paper leaks.
He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi "lost no time" in bringing the Bill to ensure "nobody will be allowed to jeopardise the future of our children."
Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge criticised the Anti-Paper Leak Bill, saying it merely amends the existing law and "nothing is going to change" despite provisions for stricter punishment, hefty fines, a special task force and fast-track courts.
He said the "real change" would come only through reforms in the way examinations are conducted and claimed the Opposition's demand for a stringent law in 2024 had been rejected.
VIDEO | Parliament Monsoon Session: Speaking during discussion on Anti-Paper Leak Bill, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, says, "So many innocent people suffered due to paper leaks... nothing is going to happen with this new Bill as only some data has been… pic.twitter.com/JgHXFiIFqZ
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 30, 2026
The Lok Sabha is set to take up the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, for consideration and passage.
According to a Lok Sabha notification, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will move that the Bill, which was passed by the Rajya Sabha, be taken into consideration and passed by the House.
Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge questioned the absence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, saying the latter "speaks over small issues" but had remained silent on the student protests.
Speaking during the debate on the anti-paper leak Bill, Kharge said the home minister should have spoken on the issue "openly" and added that "sometimes, you have to face insult too for country's betterment."
"Our Home Minister Amit Shah is not visible... he speaks over small issues, goes everywhere but not coming here. Even the PM is not speaking. You are the Home Minister, oversees law and order and so much happened in Delhi but you didn't open your mouth. You should have spoken openly. Sometimes, you have to face insult too for country's betterment," he said.
VIDEO | Parliament Monsoon Session: Speaking during discussion on Anti-Paper Leak Bill, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, says, "Our Home Minister Amit Shah is not visible... he speaks over small issues, goes everywhere but not coming here. Even the PM is… pic.twitter.com/gvnSyC3BWl
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 30, 2026
Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that the government "bowed down before students out of fear of losing 'kursi,'" and not to address their grievances.
VIDEO | During debate on anti-paper leak bill, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) says, "Government bowed down before students out of fear of losing 'kursi,' not to solve their problems."
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 30, 2026
(Source: Sansad TV)#ParliamentMonsoonSession… pic.twitter.com/oEwPXFu21g
During the debate on the anti-paper leak Bill, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said the government should have presented the "truth" about the July 20 incidents in Parliament.
He also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for remaining silent on the student protests, saying students would "teach them a lesson once again" if they continued to stay silent.
Speaking during the Rajya Sabha debate on the anti-paper leak Bill, LoP Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that Union Home Minister Amit Shah was responsible for atrocities on students and that he can't hide behind closed doors.
"The home minister was responsible for pellet gun use on students, now hiding behind closed doors. We will drag you out some day," Kharge said, prompting uproar from the treasurey benches.
VIDEO | Delhi: "HM responsible for pellet gun use on students, now hiding behind closed doors. We will drag you out some day," says Congress MP Mallikarjun Kharge during anti-paper leak debate in Rajya Sabha.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 30, 2026
(Source: Sansad TV) pic.twitter.com/ms5QKnM53R
The Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, via voice vote amid Opposition uproar.
The House was subsequently adjourned till 11 am on Friday amid protests from Opposition members.
Speaking during the debate on the anti-paper leak Bill in the Rajya Sabha, TMC MP Sagarika Ghose said the "parents of many aspiring doctors" had been left with "broken dreams", alleging that treasury bench members were unconcerned because "their children study abroad".
VIDEO | Delhi: "Parents of many aspiring doctors left with broken dreams; treasury bench members aren't worried because their children study abroad," says TMC MP Sagarika Ghose in Rajya Sabha.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 30, 2026
(Source: Sansad TV) pic.twitter.com/IIQP7DB1GC
During the debate on the anti-paper leak Bill in the Rajya Sabha, TMC MP Sagarika Ghose said, "Democracy is not 'Mann Ki Baat'; it is 'Janta Ki Baat'," and urged the government to "stop criminalising peaceful protests."
"Democracy is not 'Mann Ki Baat'; it is 'Janta Ki Baat'. Stop criminalising peaceful protests and put away your weapons," she said.
VIDEO | Parliament Monsoon Session: "Democracy is not 'Mann Ki Baat'; it is 'Janta Ki Baat'. Stop criminalising peaceful protests and put away your weapons", says TMC MP Sagarika Ghose in Rajya Sabha. pic.twitter.com/S4iwJTuUsl
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 30, 2026
Ghose also demanded that Union Home Minister Amit Shah make a statement in the Rajya Sabha and apologise to the students over the crackdown on NEET protesters, saying he "cannot evade responsibility".
VIDEO | Delhi: "I demand that the Home Minister Amit Shah come to the House, make a statement, and apologise to the students; he cannot evade responsibility," says TMC MP Sagarika Ghose on the crackdown on NEET protesters.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 30, 2026
(Source: Sansad TV) pic.twitter.com/3sfGoOKwsn
JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha on Thursday alleged in the Rajya Sabha that there were attempts to "hijack" the students' protests over the examination paper leaks, and said it should be probed who the people behind such efforts were, even as his remarks drew strong objections from CPI (M) member AA Rahim.
Participating in the debate on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, Jha alleged that during the protests over the examination controversy, some Dubai-based businessman had sent people to participate in the protest, and claimed that a Malayalam television channel aired reports on this.
"It has to be probed who were the people trying to hijack the students' protests," he said, without furnishing evidence in the House.
The remarks were immediately challenged by CPI(M) member AA Rahim, who said Jha had misled the House by referring to a Malayalam television channel and asked him to authenticate the claim, saying it was irrelevant to the Bill under discussion.
JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha urged political parties not to view examination reforms through the prism of "political gain or loss", saying students wanted to know whether their hard work was safe and whether they would get justice.
Participating in the Rajya Sabha debate on anti-paper leak bill, Jha said, "We are not shy of admitting that paper leaks are not a new problem. Students pay the price. This is a national challenge which needs a national solution. The paper mafia is playing with the future of students.
Highlighting the expansion of higher education, Jha said the Gross Enrolment Ratio had increased to around 30 per cent from 23. 7 per cent over the last 12 years, underscoring the need to ensure the integrity of public examinations.
Defending the Centre's handling of the issue, Jha said the government never made it an "ego issue", held dialogue with stakeholders and found a solution. He appealed to members to pass the Bill and ensure there was "no politics" over the issue.
RJD member Manoj Kumar Jha on Thursday described the new anti-paper leak bill as "cosmetic reforms" and demanded the dismantling of the "source of disease", the National Testing Agency (NTA), suggesting it be thrown into the Bay of Bengal.
Participating in a discussion on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, in the Rajya Sabha, Jha targeted previous governments and said that the "golden age didn't exist before either", but today the situation is quite different.
"These cosmetic reforms won't work. You have to dismantle the source of disease, and the source of disease is NTA. Throw that in the Bay of Bengal," he said.
The NTA conducts the NEET or National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for admission to medical courses.
BJP MP Anurag Thakur on Thursday submitted a notice of breach of privilege and contempt of the House to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi for what he termed as "use of unparliamentary and derogatory language and levelling grave and unsubstantiated allegations" against Home Minister Amit Shah.
In the three-page notice, Thakur requested Birla to refer this matter to the Privilege Committee for a detailed enquiry and appropriate action, including a direction to Gandhi to tender an unconditional apology to the House and to Shah.
Referring to the proceedings of the House on July 29, when the debate on the anti-paper leak bill was taking place, Thakur said Gandhi violated Rule 352 while narrating a purported conversation with protesting students.
Speaking in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, Minister of State Jitendra Singh highlighted the government's initiatives to prevent paper leaks and strengthen reforms in the education system.
Claiming that the Opposition had been unable to verify its figure of 152 paper leaks since 2014, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said 10.96 lakh appointments were made to government jobs between 2014 and 2024, compared with 7.22 lakh during 2004-2014.
The Rajya Sabha on Thursday passed the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 or the anti-paper leak bill after an Opposition walkout.
