Abhishek Banerjee Criticises Repeated Exam Paper Leak Controversies

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday criticised the Centre over recurring examination paper leak controversies, saying repeated assurances of reform have failed to restore confidence among students. Speaking during the Lok Sabha debate on the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, Banerjee said governance should be judged by outcomes rather than announcements. He argued that while the names of examinations, victims and accused may change each year, the problem of paper leaks continues to persist.

Addressing the House, Banerjee accused the government of failing to secure confidential examination papers despite claiming technological capabilities in other areas. "Every year, the government promises a new system. Every year, students get the same old scandal," he said. Mocking the Centre's claims of monitoring satellites, tracking missiles and defending cyberspace, he questioned how examination papers continued to leak before authorities could detect them. He also referred to the use of Indian Air Force aircraft to transport question papers for the re-conducted NEET examination, saying students wanted fairness rather than extraordinary logistical measures.

The TMC leader also criticised the government's handling of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP)-led student protests over the alleged examination irregularities. He alleged that instead of engaging with students' concerns, the administration responded with barricades, batons and pellet guns. Banerjee said students were not afraid of competition or merit but had lost faith in the integrity of the examination system due to corruption and manipulation. He warned that declining public trust in such institutions could weaken democratic values.

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Responding on behalf of the government, BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj defended the proposed amendments, saying the legislation seeks to ensure faster prosecution and stricter punishment for those involved in examination malpractices. She described the Bill as a necessary and transformative measure aimed at strengthening the integrity of public examinations. Swaraj also rejected Opposition claims that the government had failed to address paper leaks, arguing that the amendments reflected a responsible approach to tackling the issue.

Swaraj further accused the Opposition of displaying "selective outrage" by suggesting that examination paper leaks began only after the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) came to power in 2014. She maintained that the previous Congress-led governments had failed to establish an effective legal framework, while the Modi government had introduced concrete measures to address the problem. The debate on the amendment Bill continued in the Lok Sabha as lawmakers discussed proposals to strengthen penalties and enforcement against unfair practices in public examinations.

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