Parliament Monsoon Session Day 9 LIVE: Rajya Sabha continues discussion on The Public Examinations Bill

Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju, responding to CPI(M) MP John Brittas said, “Is it better to bring a bill and discuss it in the Parliament when students protest, or is it better to impose an emergency after protests?”

Mr. Rijiju was referring to the Internal Emergency imposed by former PM Indira Gandhi in 1975.

“We all suffered through the Emergency and opposed it. But, this government has imposed an undeclared emergency,” Mr. Brittas responded.

CPI(M) MP John Brittas pleaded the government to not treat ‘the symptom’ of the issue of paper leak, but rather go to the root cause. 

Mr. Brittas said fast-track courts and committees will not solve paper leak and that the system itself if the root cause of the problem.

Mr. Brittas told the Rajya Sabha that the tears of these children (CJP protest) can’t be broken by teargas. Their determination can’t be broken by pellets, he said. 

We are unable to carry forward prevention to elimination of paper leak, RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha said. 

Mr. Jha told the government that the Gen Z doesn’t want you to make videos on social media or mimic their language, they want you to understand their issues. 

This time a minister had to go, the next time, the entire government will go, Mr. Jha said. 

RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha called Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda — who has been a mediator between the govt and Cockroach Janta Party — to dismantle the National Testing Agency. 

We have to eliminate the problem from the source, Mr. Jha said. 

Mr. Jha recalled a conversation with MoS Education Jayant Choudhary about GATE people having to give a re-exam in the age of 53-54. But, Vice-Chancellors are heading universities without any exams, Mr. Jha pointed. 

AAP MP Sanjay Singh raised questions on EduTest company, which has conducted exams across Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar, and has been blacklisted in all three states. 

He alleged the company kept getting examination contracts due to the government’s unfair bias. 

AAP MP Sanjay Singh started by paying tribute to the 1.23 lakh students who have ended their lives in the past 10 years. 

Mr. Singh highlighted the backlog of cases in fast-track courts, the lack of facilities in education and schools. ‘Anpadh banega India, tabhi toh andbhakt banega India’ (When India becomes illiterate, then India will become blind fans), Mr. Singh said. 

He raised questions on the use of excessive force during students’ protest in Delhi and Bihar.

“The police fired AK-47 on students in Bihar,” Mr. Singh said, stating the government has behaved like terrorists. 

The events of the past few months have upset us all, NCP MP Praful Patel said during a discussion on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill. 

We have to discuss this issue without politicising it since it is about the future of the country’s youth. 

Mr. Patel, while supporting the democratic right to protest, also raised a question on the kind of language used during the protests. Mr. Patel also called for the correct guidance for the youth. 

The current Bill should be considered as the government’s strength and its efforts to take the country forward and not its weakness. 

Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav, speaking during the discussion on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill questioned the need to just increase punishment for crimes. 

Only increasing punishment will not prevent the crime from happening, Mr. Yadav said. 

He proposed that NEET exam be abolished and states be given the power to conduct entrance exams to medical education.

CPI(M) MP A.A. Rahim raised an objection on JDU(U) MP Sanjay Kumar’s remarks referring to a Malayalam channel. Mr. Jha stated a Malayalam channel showed a Dubai businessman paying 23 people to take part in India’s recent students’ protest. 

The chair assured Mr. Rahim Mr. Jha’s allegations will be examined. 

Bihar JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, while speaking during the discussion on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill listed the Centre’s achievements in terms of medical education. 

He alleged that a Malayalam new channel showed a Dubai businessman paying 23 people to send them to India and take part in the recent students’ protests. Mr. Jha’s remarks were met with opposition by Congress MPs. 

While students’ questions and points were right, it raises the question what kind of people took part in these protests, Mr. Jha said.

Surprisingly, the government has not yielded to the demands of the farmers who have been on strike for a year, the people of Manipur, nor those who protest against CAA, but the students have made the government bow down within a month, says Tiruchi Siva.

“This is the power of the students. Don’t underestimate them and treat them with your pointed guns, lathis and tear gas; that is not the way,” he adds.

The Prime Minister speaks on social media, but he doesn’t come to the House during the discussion of Bills, Mr. Siva says.

DMK MP Tiruchi Siva says he doesn’t understand how the BJP MP Brij Lal misled the House, as he said no pellet guns were used during the protest. “Yesterday, the Supreme Court directed to treat those who have been injured by pellet guns.”

One of the two assurances given to the students- the withdrawal of cases filed against the students- has not been fulfilled.

He says the anti-cheating bill is futile as it cannot change the mental preassure of the students.

“The government’s adamance has claimed the lives of 124 students,” he says, adding that India is a diverse country and one system of education cannot value the students of different parts of India, citing the NEET exam.

He adds that to do away with the NEET exam is DMK’s policy.

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, DMK MP Tiruchi Siva says the anti-paper leak bill is futile. 

“This Bill will not change the education system in the country,” Mr. Siva says. 

The Bill was passed with a symbolic debate as DMK’s Kanimozhi and BJP Sambit Patra spoke for a few minutes. 

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DMK MP Kanimozhi says the National Honour (Amendment) Bill is not secular. 

“You’re disrespecting the Tamil people by bringing this Bill,” says says. This Bill divides people across the country. DMK opposes the Bill, Ms. Kanimozhi says. 

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, Kharge urges Union government to fill the vacant teacher posts. 

He says Union Home Minister Amit Shah should take responsibility for violence that happened in Delhi. 

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, Mr. Kharge says there are almost 10 lakh teaching vacancies in the country. 

What is the state of the education system here, Mr. Kharge asks. 

“RSS functionaries have taken vice-chancellor posts in many educational institutions in the country,” Mr. Kharge says. 

Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge says this government only does damage control and headline management instead of preventing such incidents from happening in the first place. 

Mr. Kharge says re-exams are a burden on many poor families. Many students were not able to attend the re-exam because of recurring travel, thus putting a burden on poor students, Mr. Kharge alleges. 

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge questions the Centre over recurring paper leaks, arguing that despite investigative agencies being under its control and the BJP’s “double-engine” governments in several States, such incidents continue to occur. 

He says autonomy over institutions like CBI, NTA, ED could have prevented the current situation. 

Mallikarjun Kharge says the government ordered lathi charge against the protesting students. 

The Delhi Police, the CRPF come under the direct jurisdiction of the Union Home Minister. All these cannot have happened without the approval of the Home Ministry, Mr. Kharge alleges. 

Mallikarjun Kharge, speaking in the Rajya Sabha, demands Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statements on police brutality in Delhi. 

“You’re sitting inside a room, without being answerable to anything, but we will bring you out,” Mr. Kharge says, saying the Home Minister cannot evade accountability.

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, Mr. Kharge says because of the politics of the BJP, the country had to see leaks, protests and brutality by the police. 

“All of these could have been prevented if the party did not indulge in petty politics,” Mr. Kharge says. 

The government is responsible for every would inflicted on the protesters, Mr. Kharge says. 

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge questions why a bill to prevent paper leaks wasn’t brought before. 

The Union government was busy in doing politics instead of making sure the future of the students were secure, Mr. Kharge says. 

“You brought the bill to stop the protests in Delhi. You did not bring in the bill for reforms,” Mr. Kharge alleges. 

They mandate that investigations into paper leak cases be completed within two months and empower States and Union Territories to designate Sessions Courts as special fast-track courts to conduct day-to-day trials and complete them within three months of the filing of the chargesheet.

The Bill also enhances penalties for offenders. Individuals found guilty of paper leaks or other unfair means in public examinations will face imprisonment ranging from five to 10 years and fines of up to ₹50 lakh. Organised rackets will attract a minimum sentence of seven years and fines of up to ₹10 crore. In addition, the Centre has been empowered to constitute special task forces to investigate cases whenever necessary.

Dr. Singh says the amendments reflected the government’s willingness to “learn from experience” after the implementation of the 2024 anti-paper leak law. 

So far, 52 FIRs had been registered since the original law came into force and suicides linked to paper leaks had declined, he informs the Rajya Sabha.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh speaks in the Rajya Sabha. 

Dr. Singh talks about the anti-paper leak Bill. The Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday by a voice vote.

Dr. Singh lists incidents of paper leaks happened in the country in the past. Protests erupt in the House.

Amid protests from the Opposition, Lok Sabha adjourned till 3 p.m. 

Shobha Karandlaje, Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment, said that the government has increased paid maternity leave to 26 weeks for women and introduced provisions for work-from-home options.

She added that the Labour Codes prohibit gender discrimination, guarantee equal wages for equal work, and provide a grievance redressal mechanism for women workers. Furthermore, she emphasised that the Codes protect women’s right to work in any industry.

Mansukh Mandaviya said in the Rajya Sabha during the Question Hour, that the government has recognised gig workers in the Labour Codes. “Gig workers can register themselves through the e-Shram portal. We have a separate model for social security for gig workers in the Labour Codes, where we have also kept some flexibility,” he replied when asked, why the government abstained from implementing the social security framework prescribed by the International Labour Organization.

Pramod Boro, UPP(L) MP from Assam, paid tributes to the victims of the Assam floods in the House. Speaking on the implementation of the Bodo Accord and peace in the north-east, he said, “We look forward to a lasting peace in the region”

Drawing attention to the Assam floods, MP Jogen Mohan said that long-term flood control measures are needed to mitigate flooding in the State.

Surendra Singh Nagar speaks on the need for ‘One Nation One Digital Metro Card’ during Zero Hour.

Leader of the House, J.P. Nadda said that Opposition parties are disrupting the House during the Zero Hour. He said that, “Opposition has no issues; Govt. is ready to discuss on anything.”

Opposition parties started sloganeering in Rajya Sabha, demanding answers from Home Minister Amit Shah on police violence on students. 

Lok Sabha adjourned till 2 p.m. soon after commencing on Thursday (July 30, 2026)

Lok Sabha proceedings begins. LS Speaker congratulates winners at Commonwealth Games.

Opposition leaders hold protest inside Parliament premises over police action during Jantar Mantar protest.- PTI

Congress MP Manish Tewari submitted on Thursday (July 30) an Adjournment Motion in Lok Sabha to discuss “the contours of a new Anti-Defection Law that proscribes Mass Political Defections driven by opportunism and bereft of any genuine ideological or policy differences while simultaneously providing space for honest and critical dissent both inside and outside Parliament and the legislatures.”

According to the List of Business, the Lok Sabha will also receive two reports of the Standing Committee on External Affairs, including reports on “India’s Role and Presence in the Arctic and Antarctic Regions” and the action taken by the government on recommendations relating to the future of India-Bangladesh relations.

Congress Rajya Sabha MP Randeep Singh Surjewala on Thursday (July 20, 2026) submitted a formal notice under Rule 267, seeking the suspension of listed business to discuss alleged financial irregularities, embezzlement, and donation looting linked to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.

In his notice addressed to the Rajya Sabha Secretary-General, Mr. Surjewala urged the Chair to set aside all pre-scheduled legislative work for an urgent, high-priority debate to establish government accountability.

The notice highlights that millions of devotees across the globe contributed thousands of crores of rupees through collective, individual, and secret donations out of deep religious faith.

“This is because the matter of theft of donations, looting of offerings, and embezzlement in the Shri Ram Temple is not only a dacoity on the faith of millions of devotees, but it is also a direct case of loot, embezzlement, and corruption committed by the members and associated employees of the Shri Ram Temple Trust constituted under the orders of the Hon’ble Supreme Court,” the notice read.

ANI

Congress MP Manish Tewari on Thursday (July 30, 2026) submitted an Adjournment Motion Notice in the Lok Sabha, seeking a discussion on the contours of a new Anti-Defection Law.

In his notice, Mr. Tewari called for a legal framework that can prevent “mass political defections driven by opportunism” and those not based on genuine ideological or policy differences.

The Congress leader stressed the need for a balance between curbing political defections and protecting the right to “honest and critical dissent” among elected representatives inside and outside Parliament and state legislatures. He has urged the House to take up the matter for a detailed discussion, highlighting the need to revisit the existing anti-defection provisions and strengthen democratic accountability.

ANI