Speaker Om Birla appealed for dialogue after morning disruptions, while the Opposition demanded answers over the alleged use of force against student protesters.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh cited examination breaches during Congress-led governments while defending the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, in the Lok Sabha. | ANI
The Lok Sabha debate on tougher safeguards against examination malpractice turned into a sharp NDA-UPA confrontation on Tuesday, with Union Minister Jitendra Singh citing a series of paper leaks under Congress-led governments to defend the Centre’s legislative push.
The political exchange unfolded as the Opposition pressed the government for answers over the alleged use of excessive force against protesting students. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the Centre was prepared to extend the discussion on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, to as long as 10 hours.
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Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Jitendra Singh accused previous Congress-led governments of failing to introduce dedicated legislation despite repeated examination-related breaches.
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He cited what he described as paper leaks involving the Railway Recruitment Board in 2009, the All India Engineering Entrance Examination in 2011, the AIIMS New Delhi entrance examination in 2012 and the Maharashtra Secondary Certificate Examination in 2013.
Singh also referred to the Uttar Pradesh B.Ed entrance examination in 2010, the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission examination in 2012 and the West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination in 2009.
“If I keep listing them, I won’t be able to discuss the Bill itself,” he said in the Lok Sabha.
The minister argued that these incidents had underlined the need for a law dedicated to preventing organised malpractice in public examinations.
Singh said the Union government’s four major recruitment bodies were the Union Public Service Commission, Staff Selection Commission, Railway Recruitment Boards and the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection.
For admissions to higher educational institutions, he referred to the National Testing Agency, which he said was constituted by the Modi government in 2017.
According to Singh, the proposal for a common national testing agency had first been made in 1992, when the Congress was in power. He said another committee made a similar recommendation during the UPA government’s tenure in 2010.
“I do not know why it was not given due consideration, for whatever reasons or vested interests,” Singh said.
He then credited the Modi government with acting on the proposal.
“So, I think you must compliment Prime Minister Modi and this government. It has completed a task—an unfinished task—that you should have accomplished yourselves,” he said.
#WATCH | Union Minister Jitiendra Singh lists the paper leaks during the UPA; he says, “…In 2009- Railway Recruitment Board; 2011- All India Engineering Entrance Examination; 2012- AIIMS New Delhi entrance paper leak; 2013- Maharashtra Secondary Certificate Examination. If I… pic.twitter.com/joPU7ejQGg
— ANI (@ANI) July 28, 2026
Singh said the legislation introduced on Monday sought to amend the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.
He described the original law and the proposed amendments as a renewed commitment by the government to protect students and prevent organised groups from compromising their futures.
“The earlier Bill and the amendment today are, in a way, reaffirmation of this government’s deep commitment to safeguard the welfare of the students and the youth of this country,” Singh said.
He also linked the legislation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s resolve “not to allow anyone to compromise with the future of the children of Mother India”.
“Therefore, this bill can be described, in a way, as a milestone legislation in the history of Indian Parliament,” he said.
The description represented the government’s assessment of the proposed law.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the government had consulted leaders from the Congress, Samajwadi Party, DMK and NCP over the time allotted for the debate.
According to Rijiju, the parties initially agreed to extend the discussion from six hours to eight hours.
He told the House that the government would not object if the Opposition required additional time.
“I state this in the House: Venugopal ji, if you require an extra 2 hours, the government has no objection. We can meet and decide on it,” Rijiju said.
“The Speaker has just said that we have no objection to extending it by another hour… If even more time is needed beyond eight hours, we are ready for 10 hours discussion,” he added.
Earlier in the day, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla appealed to members to allow proceedings to continue and build consensus for the discussion on the Bill.
“Let the House function; let there be discussion and dialogue, and let everyone’s views be expressed. Let a positive message go out to the entire country that discussion and dialogue take place in Parliament,” Birla said.
He told members that an understanding had been reached to begin the debate at 2 pm and sought their cooperation.
The Lok Sabha was subsequently adjourned until 2 pm. The Rajya Sabha also witnessed disruptions and was adjourned amid sloganeering by Opposition members.
Opposition parties had indicated that they were willing to participate in the debate and support stronger safeguards against examination malpractice.
They, however, demanded that the government respond to allegations concerning police action against students protesting over examination irregularities.
“We are neither against the paper leak Bill nor against a discussion on it. We fully support any move to strengthen examinations, but we need an answer on pellet guns and excessive use of force against protesting students,” Opposition sources said.
The Opposition’s demand over the alleged police action has repeatedly disrupted Parliament during the Monsoon Session.
The government has maintained that the amendment is intended to strengthen protection against paper leaks and organised examination malpractice. It has urged Opposition parties to participate fully in the legislative debate.
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