Government introduces stricter anti-paper leak bill as Parliament resumes amid protests

Parliament resumed on Monday after a week of disruptions over the NEET paper leak and police action during protests at Jantar Mantar on July 20. Union Minister Jitendra Singh is set to introduce The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha.

The bill increases punishment for individuals involved in paper leaks of government examinations from three to five years' imprisonment to five to 10 years, and raises the fine from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 50 lakh. For organised criminal groups involved in unfair means, the minimum imprisonment rises from five to seven years, and the fine from at least Rs 1 crore to at least Rs 10 crore. The draft also proposes a Special Task Force to investigate such cases with a two-month timeline.

The Cabinet approved the bill on July 26, a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the move in response to student protests demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET-UG paper leak in May.

Meanwhile, Opposition MPs have submitted adjournment notices on several issues. Congress MP Manickam Tagore sought a discussion on the use of alleged "excessive force" including pellet guns and shock batons by security forces against student protesters at Jantar Mantar on July 20, resulting in injuries including possible loss of eyesight. Congress MP Manish Tewari moved a notice on the need for a new anti-defection law to address opportunistic political defections while protecting genuine dissent.

DMK MP Tiruchi Siva gave a Suspension of Business Notice in the Rajya Sabha to discuss the "plight of students" due to NEET exams and student suicides, calling for the abolition of NEET.