Congress Lines Up Rahul, Priyanka for Key Lok Sabha Debate on Anti-Paper Leak Bill

New Delhi, July 2026 : The Congress has fielded some of its top leaders, including Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, K.C. Venugopal and Jothimani Sennimalai, to lead the party’s intervention in the Lok Sabha debate on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, on Tuesday. The legislation seeks to strengthen the legal framework against paper leaks and examination-related fraud, an issue that has triggered nationwide concern and protests in recent months.

The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Monday by Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh. On Tuesday morning, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla informed members that the House would take up the legislation for discussion at 2 p.m. He appealed to MPs to ensure the smooth functioning of Question Hour and refrain from disrupting proceedings. However, amid continued protests by Opposition members, the House was adjourned till 2 p.m.

The proposed legislation seeks to amend the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, with the objective of making the country’s examination system more transparent, credible and secure. The government has maintained that the amendments are aimed at protecting the future of students by introducing tougher legal provisions against organised examination fraud.

Among the key provisions of the Bill are stringent penalties for those involved in paper leaks and unfair practices. Offenders could face imprisonment of up to 10 years and fines of up to Rs 10 crore. The proposed law also provides for the confiscation of assets of those found guilty and introduces a mechanism to ensure that judgments in such cases are delivered within three months.

The amendments come after the Union Cabinet approved a series of measures to tackle examination fraud following weeks of protests over paper leaks in competitive examinations. The legislation also proposes the establishment of dedicated fast-track courts to hear such cases, with a mandate to complete trials and deliver verdicts within three months.

The initiative follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement that the government would bring comprehensive legislation to crack down on paper leaks and restore public confidence in the examination system. Tuesday’s debate is expected to witness detailed discussions as both the Treasury benches and the Opposition present their views on safeguarding the integrity of public examinations and protecting the interests of millions of students across the country.