New Delhi: The Monsoon Session of Parliament continued to witness heated exchanges on Monday as the controversy surrounding the NEET 2026 examination paper leak remained the main issue in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. Although former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned over the weekend, the Opposition insisted that his resignation alone was not enough and demanded a broader discussion on the issue, along with accountability for those responsible for the alleged leak and the handling of student protests.
The session began amid loud protests by Opposition members, who accused the government of failing to protect the integrity of one of India's most important entrance examinations. Members of the INDIA bloc demanded that the government explain the circumstances that led to the paper leak, identify those responsible, and ensure justice for lakhs of students who were affected by the crisis.
While Parliament witnessed repeated disruptions, the government moved ahead with its legislative agenda by introducing the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, in the Lok Sabha. The proposed legislation seeks to strengthen the existing law by introducing stricter measures to prevent examination fraud across the country.
According to the government, the Bill proposes seven major amendments aimed at making the examination system more secure. These include the establishment of fast track courts to deal exclusively with examination related offences, time bound investigations, and the completion of trials within three months after the filing of charge sheets. The legislation also provides for tougher penalties against organised paper leak networks and seeks stronger coordination between central and state investigating agencies.
The introduction of the Bill follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement of a comprehensive reform package for India's examination system. The Prime Minister has announced the formation of a high level task force headed by Infosys co founder Nandan Nilekani. The panel has been asked to recommend technology driven reforms and measures to improve transparency, strengthen security, and restore public confidence in competitive examinations.
Despite these announcements, Opposition parties maintained that the government's actions had come too late. Congress leaders, along with other Opposition MPs, held demonstrations inside the Parliament complex, demanding that Home Minister Amit Shah make a detailed statement in Parliament. They also called for an apology over the alleged police action against students during protests held earlier this month and demanded a full debate on the NEET controversy.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra joined fellow Opposition leaders in raising concerns over the treatment of students who participated in demonstrations. Opposition members argued that many students who peacefully protested against the examination irregularities were subjected to unnecessary police action.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party defended the government's response and accused the Opposition of disrupting Parliament for political reasons. NDA members welcomed former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan as he arrived at Parliament, raising slogans in his support and signalling that the party continued to stand behind him despite his resignation.
The government also pointed out that it had already accepted the minister's resignation, announced a comprehensive reform package, created a national task force, and introduced stronger legislation against paper leaks. BJP leaders argued that these measures reflected the government's commitment to addressing the concerns of students and preventing similar incidents in the future.
Meanwhile, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, who has been given additional charge of the Education Ministry, officially assumed responsibility for the portfolio. He held discussions with senior officials to review the ministry's immediate priorities and oversee the implementation of the government's proposed examination reforms.
The political debate also extended beyond Parliament as concerns continued over the police response to student protests in several states. Reports indicated that the detention of students during demonstrations remained a major point of criticism for the Opposition, which accused authorities of suppressing peaceful protests.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman defended the government's position, stating that students were never prevented from expressing their concerns peacefully. She said the Centre remained committed to ensuring a fair examination process, punishing those responsible for the paper leak, and implementing reforms that would make future examinations more transparent and secure.
With the anti paper leak Bill now before Parliament and both the government and the Opposition refusing to soften their positions, the NEET controversy is expected to dominate the remainder of the Monsoon Session. While the government hopes that its reform measures will help restore confidence in India's examination system, the Opposition continues to press for greater accountability and a detailed parliamentary discussion on the events that led to one of the country's biggest examination controversies.