After a week of impasse, the Lok Sabha began a discussion on the anti-paper leak Bill on Tuesday with Union Minister Jitendra Singh starting the debate on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill 2026 by calling it the first of its kind in Independent India.
“This Bill is an amendment to the Public Examinations Prevention of Unfair Means Act, 2024, which was also brought by this government. It was perhaps the first of its kind in Independent India. The earlier Bill and the amendments today are, in a way, reaffirmation of this government’s deep commitment to safeguarding the welfare of the students and the youth of this country. It is a milestone legislation,” said Jitendra.
He recalled that the National Testing Agency constituted in 2017 was recommended to the Congress government in 1992 and later the UPA government. Before this, there was no comprehensive law to deal with such cases, he said.
Gogoi questions NTA strength
Stating that 21 children had ended their lives over NEET paper leak, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said, “The minister under whose watch 21 children lost their lives, when he resigned from his post and returned to the House yesterday, you garlanded him as if he had returned from a war against Pakistan.”
Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gogoi said, “In the first Cabinet meeting, instead of having a comprehensive discussion on how to improve education and finish the mafias, Modi wanted to focus more on Instagram. Modi talks about a high-powered committee; what happened to the recommendations of the K Radhakrishnan committee?” He pointedly asked if the sanctioned capacity of the National Testing Agency (NTA) was 34, who were the 47 persons sacked from the testing agency.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav asked that if the Bill was brought in 2024, why the paper leak happened in 2026. “This was the first protest where parents also joined their children. This was not limited to Delhi,” he said.
Priyanka questions Pralhad Joshi’s appointment
Chaos erupted in the Lok Sabha after Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for appointing Pralhad Joshi as the new education minister, saying he had supported the release of the rapists of a pregnant woman.
Speaking in Parliament, Priyanka said, “Prime Minister Modi chose a new Education Minister and appointed a person to this position who had expressed support for the release of the rapists of a pregnant woman. What message has the Prime Minister sent to the crores of girls in this country through this decision? The message is loud and clear. There is no ambiguity about it…”
She also took a swipe at Modi, saying he will need to change the angle of his heart, not camera to gain the trust of Gen Z. Targeting Home Minister Amit Shah, she said he must answer as to who authorised the use of pellet guns and AK-47s on protesting students.
Union minister Kiren Rijiju demanding an apology over her comments. He said that her comments amount to Pralhad’s “character assassination” and urged the House to expunge her statement from the record.
Joshi defender of rapists, filthiest kind of man: Rahul
Meanwhile, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi also criticised the government over the appointment of Joshi, alleging that the BJP had chosen a person who had defended rapists. “After all these young people were protesting about the education system, the BJP puts a man who is a defender of rapists. That is the filthiest kind of man. There can be no filthier man than somebody who says that rapists need protection," he said.
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