NEW DELHI: The Monsoon Session of Parliament on Monday witnessed repeated disruptions as the government introduced the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, while opposition parties demanded a statement from Union home minister Amit Shah on the alleged police action against protesting students.The opposition also raised the alleged use of an AK-47 rifle during a student protest in Bihar’s Siwan district on July 25. A police constable was suspended after a purported video showing him using the rifle during the protest went viral on social media. Police said an inquiry has been ordered into the incident.The two Houses were adjourned for the day amid sloganeering and protests, with the Lok Sabha scheduled to meet again at 11 am on Tuesday. The Rajya Sabha was also adjourned until Tuesday amid Opposition demands for a statement from Shah.Here are the top developments from Parliament session:
Anti-paper leak Bill introduced amid Opposition protests
The Centre introduced the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, seeking tougher punishment for paper leaks and examination malpractice. The Bill proposes imprisonment of up to 10 years and a fine of up to Rs 10 crore for organised examination-related offences.The legislation also proposes Special Fast Track Courts for such cases and seeks to strengthen the existing anti-paper leak law passed in 2024.Union minister of state for PMO Jitendra Singh introduced the Bill in the Lok Sabha amid opposition sloganeering over the alleged police action against students during recent protests.The proposed amendments include increasing the minimum punishment for organised crime related to examination malpractice from five years to seven years. For individuals found guilty, the imprisonment is proposed to be increased to a minimum of five years, extendable up to 10 years, along with a fine of up to Rs 50 lakh.
Rijiju urges opposition to join Bill debate
Parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju urged opposition MPs to allow a discussion on the anti-paper leak Bill, saying the legislation was important for students and young people.Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Rijiju said several opposition members had submitted amendments and were prepared for the discussion. He accused the Congress and some of its allies of deliberately disrupting the proceedings.“All the members have come prepared, and several members from the Opposition have also submitted amendments; they, too, are well-prepared. This is an important Bill, one that is vital for the lives of children, youth, and students…Yet, the Congress party and some of its allies are deliberately preventing a discussion on such an important Bill,” Rijiju said.He urged Congress MPs to participate in the debate, saying six hours had been allotted for the discussion and more time could be provided if required.He said the Congress had earlier demanded a discussion on examinations and the welfare of students, but was now preventing the House from debating the legislation after time had been allotted for it.“I urge my colleagues in the Congress party: please do not do this. Your image has already suffered greatly; do not engage in actions that will bring further disrepute to your party. The entire party should stand united and participate in the discussion on this important Bill, which aims to improve the lives of our youth and students,” he said.
Rijiju targets Kharge over Rajya Sabha disruptions
In the Rajya Sabha, Rijiju also appealed to Congress president and Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge to allow the discussion on the anti-paper leak Bill to take place.“Senior leaders like Kharge-ji are present here. I had high hopes this morning that Kharge ji would at least counsel his Congress MPs,” Rijiju said.He said the government had brought the Bill after repeated demands for discussion on the NEET paper leak and the future of students.“We have brought forward such a crucial Bill, the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026. We appealed to the Congress yesterday and again this morning, yet they remain unwilling to cooperate,” he said.Rijiju said the Opposition was claiming outside Parliament that it was not being allowed to speak, while the government was asking its members to participate in the debate.“Outside, Congress members claim that they are not being allowed to speak in Parliament. On the contrary, here we are earnestly requesting them to participate in the discussion, but they are refusing to do so. What kind of approach is this?” he said.He also warned that the youth were watching the proceedings and said Opposition MPs would have to answer to the public if they continued to disrupt the debate.“The youth of the country are watching. Everyone wants to hear the discussion on this Bill. We have already submitted the list of speakers for the Lok Sabha, yet your Congress members are creating disruptions there as well. This is not right…If you continue to behave in this manner, you will have to answer to the public,” Rijiju said.
Lok Sabha adjourned amid sloganeering
The Lok Sabha could not take up the proposed debate on the anti-paper leak Bill as Opposition MPs continued sloganeering over the alleged police action against students.Earlier, Speaker Om Birla had given the government and Opposition a three-hour window to resolve their differences and allow the debate to begin at 5 pm.Birla said six hours had been allocated for the discussion and more time could be given depending on the “sense of the House”. He also urged MPs to stop raising slogans and participate in the legislative process.The House was eventually adjourned for the day.
Rajya Sabha also adjourned amid Opposition uproar
The Rajya Sabha witnessed similar disruptions, with opposition MPs demanding a statement from home minister Amit Shah on the alleged police action against students.The House was adjourned several times before being adjourned for the day.Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the opposition was not opposed to discussing the anti-paper leak Bill but wanted Shah to respond to allegations of police action against youngsters during the protests.
CJP holds press conference, seeks Sibal’s legal guidance
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) spokespersons Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das addressed a press conference along with independent Rajya Sabha leader and senior advocate Kapil Sibal, where they raised concerns over the alleged detention and arrest of protesters following the withdrawal of their 36-day agitation.Das said the CJP had remained in touch with Sibal and had sought his legal guidance over concerns that protesters could face action after the movement ended. He said the organisation had been providing legal and medical assistance to students and coordinating with lawyers across the country.The CJP also launched ‘Saakshi’, a website and application aimed at preserving original photos and videos recorded during protests. The platform allows users to upload original footage and generates a cryptographic fingerprint for each file, creating a tamper-evident record that can be shared through verified legal-aid channels.The development came after CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka warned that the organisation could resume its protest if FIRs registered against students and other protesters are not withdrawn and those detained are not released.In a post on X, Ranka alleged that the government’s assurance of no punitive action against protesters was being breached. He claimed that hundreds of students had been arrested in Bihar and West Bengal, while others were being detained or harassed in Delhi and other states.Ranka demanded the immediate withdrawal of all FIRs against protesters, the release of detained students and an assurance that no fresh cases would be filed against them. He warned that the CJP would be “forced to sit on protest again” if the demands were not met.
Lok Sabha deadlock likely to end on Tuesday, Rahul to speak on bill
The deadlock in the Lok Sabha during the Monsoon Session of Parliament is likely to end on Tuesday with floor leaders of all political parties agreeing to hold a discussion on The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, ANI said citing sources.The decision was taken on the initiative of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Eight hours have been allotted for the discussion on the anti-paper leak Bill in the Lok Sabha.The Congress is expected to participate in the discussion, with Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi likely to speak on the Bill. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra may also be among the speakers from the party.However, the opposition’s final strategy will be decided at a meeting of its floor leaders scheduled to be held in Parliament on Tuesday morning, ANI reported..
Opposition protests outside Parliament
Opposition MPs resumed their demonstration in the Parliament complex, demanding accountability over the alleged use of force against student protesters.Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress MPs KC Venugopal and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav were among those who participated in the protest.The opposition demanded the withdrawal of criminal cases registered against student protesters and sought a response from Shah over the alleged police action during the July 20 ‘Sansad Chalo’ protest.The opposition has continued to raise the NEET paper leak issue since the Monsoon Session began on July 20, with legislative business repeatedly disrupted.
Supreme Court backs right to peaceful protest
The Supreme Court on Monday observed that the right to peaceful protest is constitutionally guaranteed and that the mere existence of an agitation cannot justify alleged police excesses.A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant made the observations while hearing pleas alleging police excesses against students during the July 20 protests over the NEET paper leak.“Right to peaceful protests is in the Constitution. Right to peaceful protest is absolutely guaranteed. That cannot be denied. Merely because there is agitation cannot justify police excess,” the CJI said.The court also stressed that protests should not result in violence or attacks on police personnel.“Agitation does not mean lathicharge. Also, agitation does not mean violence,” the bench observed.The Supreme Court indicated that a uniform nationwide protocol could be framed to regulate peaceful protests while allowing authorities to deal with anti-social elements. The matter will be heard again on Tuesday.
Siwan AK-47 row rocks Parliament
The alleged use of an AK-47 during a student protest in Bihar’s Siwan district also became a major political issue.A police constable was suspended after a purported video showing him using an AK-47 during the July 25 student protest went viral on social media. PTI could not independently verify the authenticity of the video.Siwan SP Puran Kumar Jha said the constable, who was posted with the District Intelligence Unit, had been suspended with immediate effect and departmental proceedings had been initiated.“There were clear instructions to the police force not to open fire during the demonstration,” the SP said.He added that no one was injured in the firing and an inquiry had been launched to determine the circumstances in which the constable used the rifle.
Tejashwi demands judicial probe into AK-47 incident
RJD leader and Leader of Opposition in the Bihar assembly Tejashwi Yadav demanded a judicial inquiry into the alleged use of the AK-47 during the Siwan protest.“Merely suspending a constable for allegedly using an AK-47 rifle during the student protest in Siwan is not enough. A judicial inquiry must be ordered into the incident,” Yadav said.He also demanded the release of students arrested during the July 25 Bihar bandh, warning that the RJD would launch a statewide agitation if they were not released.Yadav questioned who had ordered the alleged use of the rifle and sought an explanation for cases being registered against students under serious charges, including attempt to murder.
Rahul Gandhi attacks Centre over student protests
Rahul Gandhi launched a fresh attack on the Centre, alleging that the “entire system is downright deadly against students”.Referring to the alleged AK-47 firing in Bihar, Rahul aid, “News is coming in that AK-47 bullets have been fired at protesting students in Bihar, and hundreds of students have been arrested with FIRs being filed against them.”He also questioned the government’s assurance that no FIRs would be filed against protesting students.“In Delhi, pellet guns were fired at students, and in Bihar, AK-47s. Whether it’s Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, or Delhi—the pattern is the same everywhere,” Gandhi said.He demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi apologise to students and take action against those responsible for alleged attacks on protesters.
Priyanka Gandhi flags FIRs in Bihar, Bengal
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also raised concerns over reports of FIRs being filed against students in Bihar and Bengal.“I have heard that FIRs are still being filed against students in Bihar and Bengal. I have heard this, but it is not yet verified. So, what is the use then?” she said.Nearly 200 students allegedly detained after the July 22 and July 25 protests remained in custody for more than 24 hours across police stations in Patna, according to advocates.
