Parliament Monsoon Session LIVE: Rahul Gandhi arrives to speak on anti-paper leak Bill as government, Opposition face off in Lok Sabha

The Monsoon Session of Parliament continued on Wednesday with heated exchanges between the NDA government and the Opposition, as Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi arrived in the Lok Sabha to participate in the debate on the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, popularly referred to as the anti-paper leak Bill.

The discussion comes amid an intense political confrontation over examination reforms, recent student protests, and the government’s proposed measures to curb paper leaks across the country.

Rahul Gandhi set to speak on anti-paper leak Bill

Rahul Gandhi reached Parliament ahead of the day’s proceedings and is expected to address the House during the debate on the anti-paper leak legislation.

The Bill seeks to strengthen the legal framework against examination malpractices and has become one of the key legislative priorities of the ongoing Monsoon Session.

The government has described the proposed law as an important step toward ensuring transparency, fairness, and credibility in public examinations.

Births and Deaths Amendment Bill introduced

Alongside the examination reform Bill, the government introduced the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha.

The legislation was introduced by Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai despite protests from Opposition members, who demanded the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah during the discussion on the anti-paper leak Bill.

The proposed amendment seeks to tighten the rules governing delayed registration of births and deaths.

Under the existing law, registrations delayed by more than one year require approval from the District Magistrate (DM), Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), or an Executive Magistrate.

The new Bill proposes a stricter two-tier approval mechanism depending on the length of the delay, aiming to improve the integrity of civil registration records.

Government accuses Opposition of politicising debate

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju criticised Opposition parties for focusing on political issues instead of participating in the substantive discussion on the anti-paper leak Bill.

Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Rijiju said Congress members had not adequately contributed to Tuesday’s debate and instead raised unrelated political issues.

He expressed hope that Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition leaders would engage directly with the provisions of the proposed legislation during Wednesday’s proceedings.

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Opposition raises concerns over student protests

Opposition parties, however, have maintained that the debate cannot be separated from the recent nationwide student protests over examination irregularities.

Several Opposition MPs criticised the government’s handling of demonstrations linked to the CJP-led July 20 march to Parliament, alleging that the police action against protesting students reflected broader concerns over the management of examination reforms.

The Opposition has argued that accountability for paper leak incidents and the government’s response to student protests should also form part of the parliamentary discussion.

Focus remains on examination reforms

The Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 aims to strengthen existing laws against cheating, paper leaks, and other unfair practices in competitive examinations.

The government says the proposed amendments reaffirm its commitment to protecting students and ensuring fair recruitment and admission processes across India.

With Rahul Gandhi expected to address the House and both sides standing firm on their positions, the debate is likely to remain one of the most closely watched developments of the ongoing Monsoon Session.