Paper Leak Bill To Move Ahead Even Without Opposition Debate, Says Rijiju

The government will move ahead with the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, even if Opposition parties decide to boycott the debate, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said in the Lok Sabha on Monday. He asserted that the legislation would be passed regardless of whether Opposition members participate in the discussion. Speaking in the House ahead of the proposed eight-hour debate on the Bill, Rijiju said the government was ready for a detailed discussion but would not allow the legislation aimed at strengthening examination security to be delayed due to a possible Opposition boycott.

“If the Opposition parties do not want to discuss the Examination Reforms Bill, the government will get the Bill passed without discussion,” Rijiju said in the Lok Sabha. Following his remarks, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla urged all political parties to hold consultations and ensure that the discussion on the Bill takes place as scheduled. The proposed debate is expected to begin later in the day, with the government seeking participation from members across parties. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has submitted a list of MPs who will take part in the discussion.

The government is expected to propose an eight-hour debate on the legislation, which was introduced in the Lok Sabha by Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh. Around 12 NDA leaders have been finalised to speak during the discussion, including Bansuri Swaraj, Tejasvi Surya, Shashank Mani Tripathi, Anurag Thakur, Shrikant Shinde, Arun Bharti, Alok Suman, Anupriya Patel and Sayali Ghosh. The proposed amendment seeks to strengthen measures against unfair practices in public examinations and address concerns over paper leaks and examination-related fraud.

Also Read: Kiren Rijiju Says MPs Seek Debate As Parliament Loses Fifth Working Day

The move comes amid nationwide debates over the security and transparency of competitive examinations following allegations of irregularities. However, Opposition parties have opposed taking up the Bill for direct discussion in the Lok Sabha. The Congress and other parties have demanded that the legislation be referred to a Parliamentary Standing Committee or a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for detailed examination before being passed. The Congress has also linked the debate on the Bill to allegations of police action against student protesters. The party has demanded that Union Home Minister Amit Shah make a statement in the Lok Sabha regarding the alleged assault of students before discussions on examination reforms begin.

Congress MP Tariq Anwar said the party believes the government should first address concerns raised by students and apologise for the treatment of protesters. He alleged that there was widespread anger over the issue and questioned the circumstances surrounding police action during demonstrations. The government, however, has maintained that strengthening the examination system is a priority and that the proposed legislation is necessary to prevent malpractice and protect students’ interests. Officials have argued that stricter legal provisions are required to ensure fairness and accountability in competitive examinations.

The debate over the Public Examinations Amendment Bill comes at a time when examination reforms have become a major political issue. While the government is pushing for quick legislative action, the Opposition is seeking wider scrutiny before the Bill moves forward. The outcome of the discussion will determine the next stage of the legislation as both sides remain firm on their positions. With the government indicating that it intends to proceed even without Opposition participation, the Bill is expected to remain a key point of contention during the ongoing Parliament session.

Also Read: Opposition Stands Firm On Pradhan Resignation Despite Rijiju’s Appeal For Parliamentary Debate