Parliament Monsoon Session LIVE: Rajya Sabha Returns the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill; FM Clarifies UPI Users Will Bear No Charges

After the Union Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman defended the bill in the Rajya Sabha, the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, was returned to Lok Sabha via voice vote. The money bill will now be taken up in the house for further consideration before it is passed. The opposition, mainly Congress leaders, was notably missing from the discussion and voting, staging a walkout in opposition to the money bill.

Finance Minister ended her response by addressing the "most-discussed" point of the bill regarding the UPI. Sitharaman said, "The amendment is an enabling provision and doesn't impose any taxation or other transaction charges on UPI users. It enables the government to specify, through notification, the electronic payment modes that will continue to receive statutory protection against charges. Once the bill is passed in the parliament, the UPI and Services Tiering committee, headed by the National Payment Corporation of India, will consider and decide whether any MDR should be introduced, and if so, its scope and structure."

Therefore, according to FM, there are no changes on UPI payments for normal consumers. Taking examples of VISA and MasterCard, She said, "electronic merchants routinely pay MDR of 1.5% to more than 2% on credit cards, and up to 0.90% on debit cards today. Yet, major retailers, generally do not add a separate charge to the customers. Instead, the actively promote card usage through discount and EMI offers."

According to FM, UPI remains the least attractive option in e-commerce despite having zero MDR as opposed to Credit and Debit Cards, where the merchants are already bearing MDR costs.

Explicitly, answering the question, whether consumers will pay any UPI charge, she said, "No. UPI has remained free for consumers since its launch and every Indian will continue to make instant digital payment without paying a transaction charge." FM further said that MDR, even if enabled, will only be imposed on businesses above a higher threshold, making small business, as pointed by Sanjay Jha, immune to any MDR charges.

Nirmala Sitharaman replied to the Rajya Sabha's discussion on Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The Finance Minister first addressed the questions about whether these amendments will benefit only foreign companies. She said that foreign companies procuring data services from India are exempted of taxes, which will benefit Indian cloud services providers, boosting AI data centers in the country. She further went on to address the questions raised in the house regarding the UPI payments.

During the discussion on Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, opposition leaders opposed the bill, questioning why taxation on UPI payments were introduced. Earlier, the government cleared the air on the bill, claiming that the consumers won't be liable to any extra charges while carrying out UPI payments. However, Dr. John Brittas, CPI(M) Leader, said that any charge bearable by the merchant will eventually be paid by the consumers. He called it an "indirect taxation" on UPI payments. He further said that this bill is a violation of the guarantee given by the Prime Minister when he was promoting Digital India.

AAP MP Sanjay Jha opposed the bill, claiming that it is against small businesses and the common man. He said that the government first asked those small-scale businesses to switch to cashless payments and now they are imposing taxes on them.

DMK MP P. Wilson, opposing the bill, said the center's proposal will be a burden on people. He said that the people who had switched to online transactions, listening to the PM, will go back to cash payments if such amendments are introduced.

The Bankers' Books Evidence Bill, 2026 aims to modernize the legal framework around banking systems. While responding to the discussion on the bill in Rajya Sabha, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman expressed the "sad state" of the opposition who had walked out during the session. She stated that this bill is a monumental step in implementing Prime Minister's vision to get out of the colonial mindset. "The laws that were made for Queen's subjects, now need to be changed to make them more citizen centric," Sitharaman said in her reply.

The bill seeks amendment of an act that has origins since 1891, largely made for a paper-based banking system. Therefore, as India is rapidly moving to digitized economy, the Finance Minister said, this bill makes the system more streamlined. The bill was then passed in the house via voice vote.

After Kiren Rijiju assured that the Home Minister will answer to all the questions regarding students' issues, the opposition continued to protest in the house, shouting slogans and displaying placards. Jagdambika Pal, from the Chair, urged opposition leaders to maintain the house in order before House Minister responds to your questions. As the Lok Sabha session tried to proceed with the discussion on the Tribunals Reforms Bill, 2026, the ruckus caused the house to adjourn for the day. It will reconvene tomorrow on August 11, 2026 at 11 AM.

In the Lok Sabha, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju said that Home Minister will answer all questions on students' protest. Responding to repeated protests from opposition in the house, Rijiju said, "From the first day opposition and Rahul Gandhi have been asking for a response from the Home Minister on student protest. The government is ready to answer all the questions. Home Minister will give a detailed answer to all the questions. I urge the Congress Party to not get scared or run away during Home Minister's response. Listen it fully. Government is fully co-operating to have a thorough discussion on students' issues"

Opposition leaders continued their slogans as the leaders refuse to settle down until Home Minister Amit Shah responds to their questions in Parliament. The house was adjourned till 2 PM

The Rajya Sabha again faced deadlock between the ruling party and the opposition as both shouted slogans at each other, creating ruckus during the Question Hour. The House was abruptly adjourned for till 11 AM on August 10, 2026.

Lok Sabha was adjourned as the opposition's sloganeering in the house continued. The House will reconvene at 11 AM on August 10, 2026.

The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026 replace the 2006 act. The MSME Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi addressed the discussion on the bill in Lok Sabha. According to him the bill will address this sector's liquidity concerns by mandating all Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) route all invoice settlements through the Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS) for the procurement of goods and services from MSMEs. The bill was passed via voice vote in the House.

Proceedings in the Lok Sabha began in the same manner as yesterday: a few minutes of passed by peacefully before Opposition members started their sloganeering and protests over Union Home Minister Amit Shah's absence in the House. MPs demanded a statement from the HM over the police crackdown on student protestors.

As the Lok Sabha remained in a deadlock, Speaker Om Birla adjourned the House till 12pm.

The bill sought the authorization of appropriation of money out of Consolidated Funds of India to pay the excess expenditure during the FY 2022-23. The Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman while responding to the discussion on the bill in the House said, "This is the demand for excess grant for expenditures undertaken in the year 2023 on just two accounts. These two accounts were a part of what the Public Accounts Committee in its 39th report presented to the Lok Sabha this year in April."

She further clarified that the one excess demand arises from certain court order that was on the Railway Ministry for ₹196.44 crore. The second demand refers to a larger amount of ₹53,871 crore pertaining to the repayment of debt. The bill has now been returned to the Lok Sabha after the Upper House passed it via voice vote.

Lok Sabha passed the Taxation and Other Laws Amendment Bill on Thursday, August 6, 2026. The Bill proposes amendment to the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, the Income-tax Act, 2025, and the Finance Act, 2026. The bill proposes various tax reforms which the government claims will strengthen investor confidence, promoting manufacturing, and providing more certainty in India's tax framework. The aim of the bill is to simplify the tax regime and improve ease of doing business.

The discussion on the bill was cut short as the opposition leaders continued to create ruckus in the house, raising slogans for Home Minister Amit Shah to be present in the parliament. The bill will now be taken up in Rajya Sabha for consideration.

Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun KhargeNow, I have to learn from Rijiju ji what are the rules. They come to your (Chairman's) chamber, write the same stuff and then repeat it in the parliament. It is my right what to speak, when to speak, how to speak." While stating other rules of the parliament, Kharge said, "You are insulting the members. You took Pawan Khera's name and insulted him. We only raise serious questions concerning the140 crore people of the country."

The LoP started Demanding the presence of Home Minister in the house and said, "In this house, Rajya Sabha, Jaitley ji himself said, disruption is part of democracy." His speech was then interrupted by, Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan calling Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju to respond.

Rijiju said that the LoP has not quoted any parliamentary rules in response to him. He said, "As the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, I want to facilitate the new member Pawan Khera, but he has not given his maiden speech yet. I request he should be given a chance. LoP has not quoted any rules."

Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan told Rijiju to put forward Opposition's request to the House Minister to be present in the house. While acknowledging that it is HM's will, Chairman stated that the opposition's request should be conveyed to him regardless. However, opposition's slogans continued in Rajya Sabha, disrupting yet another Question Hour. The House was abruptly adjourned till 2:15 PM

Proceedings in the Rajya Began with opposition protests, as House members continued their sloganeering. Amidst the chaos, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju cited Rule 352 [2] of the Rajya Sabha and stated that while the Council is in session, no member should interrupt another through disorderly expressions, noise, or any other disruptive manner. Directing his comments towards Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, Mr. Rijiju referred to another provision that bars members from indulging in repetitive arguments, alleging that Mr. Kharge was repeating the same points in the House every day.

As the House broke into a din, Chairman C P Radhakrishnan adjourned the Rajya Sabha till 12pm.

Proceedings in the Lok Sabha began with Speaker Om Birla mentioning the bombing of the Japanese cities Nagasaki and Hiroshima on August 6 and August 9, 1945, respectively. This marked the first time nuclear weapons were used in warfare. Mr. Birla reiterated the House's commitment in making the world free of weapons of mass destruction.

After the House observed a few seconds of silence in remembrance, members started shouting asking about Home Minister Amit Shah's absence. Mr. Birla called for the House to maintain its decorum and to take up questions and queries during Question Hour.

As chaos continued, Speaker Om Birla adjourned the House till 2pm.

New Delhi, Aug 5 (IANS) Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned for the day on Wednesday amid continuous noisy protests and disruptions by Opposition MPs demanding statehood for Jammu and Kashmir, a statement from the Home Minister on alleged police action against students, and accountability on Ram Temple donations. 

The deadlock, however, did not prevent key legislative business from being transacted.

The Rajya Sabha cleared the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, which raises the sanctioned strength of the apex court from 34 to 38 judges, including the Chief Justice of India.

The Bill, treated as a Money Bill, was returned to the Lok Sabha after consideration.

Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal underlined the need for a structural shift in the higher judiciary, citing the example of the Sabarimala case being heard by a nine-judge Bench, which leaves fewer judges available for other matters.

He said the increase would enable the Supreme Court to hear more cases simultaneously, improve the disposal rate, and make it easier for the Chief Justice of India to constitute Constitution Benches regularly.

Meghwal also referred to ongoing consultations on regional benches of the Supreme Court under Article 130 of the Constitution and reaffirmed the Union government's commitment to the independence of the Judiciary.

He noted that after the earlier ordinance, one more woman judge had been appointed and expressed confidence that India would soon see a woman Chief Justice of India, in line with the government's focus on Nari Shakti.

In the Lok Sabha, the Bankers' Books Evidence Bill, 2026, was passed by voice vote without any discussion before the House was adjourned.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju urged Opposition MPs to allow the House to function and criticised the Congress, Communist party of India and the Samajwadi Party for politicising the alleged Ram Temple donations issue.

He also dismissed rumours of extending the Monsoon Session or convening a special session in mid-August.

Earlier on Wednesday, Opposition MPs led by Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi marched from Prerna Sthal to Makar Dwar pressing their demands.

Amid the stalemate, Rijiju held a 50-minute meeting with Rahul Gandhi inside the Parliament complex in an attempt to break the deadlock.

Congress MPs also met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to object to certain remarks made against party members.

In the Rajya Sabha, Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan repeatedly appealed for order, reminding members that entering the well of the House and displaying placards are prohibited.

Despite the heated atmosphere, the passage of the two Bills marked limited progress on a day otherwise dominated by protests and adjournments.

As per The Hindu, the Rajya Sabha has moved the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026 to the Lok Sabha for consideration. The bill aims to increase the strength of the Supreme Court from 34 to 38 judges, including the Chief Justice of India.

On August 5, 2026, the Bankers' Books Evidence Bill was passed via voice vote amidst continuous ruckus by the Opposition. The Hindu reported that the bill, which was moved by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, was discussed despite the disruptions. The bill aims to allow copies of bank records to be used as evidence in legal proceedings. It also seeks to replace the Bankers' Books Evidence Act, 1891.

In the Rajya Sabha, opposition members continued their protest, demanding an answer from Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Chairperson C.P. Radhakrishnan urged the House members to raise matters without deviating from the subject.

“There is no point of an order if there is no order in the House,” Mr. Radhakrishnan said before the adjournment. The House will reconvene at 12pm.

The Lok Sabha was adjourned minuets after proceedings commenced for the day. The House faced disruptions as Opposition continued their sloganeering. Speaker Om Birla said that raising slogans inside or outside House is not good for democracy.

The Lok Sabha was adjourned till 2pm.

Nityanand Rai, MoS Home Affairs, replied to the Rajya Sabha's discussion on Births and Death Amendment Bill as the Opposition leaders continued demanding that Amit Shah should answer their questions in the House.

The bill introduces stricter laws for those who register for birth and death after more than one to two years. Under the new rules, those who register for birth and death after more than a year will need an order from the District Magistrate (DM), Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), or an Executive Magistrate before it is officially recorded.

According to Rai, the system for registration of Births and Deaths between one to two years will largely remain unchanged. However, for those registering after two years, approval will only be granted on the orders of a first-class judicial magistrate, making delays in registration more stringent and difficult. The MoS Home Affairs claimed that this will eradicate all the "ghosts" in the system who kept on appearing on official records despite being dead for years.

After Rai's concluding remarks, Rajya Sabha passed the bill through voice vote.

After the Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill 2026 was passed in Lok Sabha, Nityanand Rai, Minister of State Home Affairs, introduced the bill in Rajya Sabha of behalf of the Home Minsitry. However, Opposition continued to demand the presence of Home Minister Amit Shah before discussing the bill, questioning his role in the alleged police brutality against students on July 20 parliament march.

Leader of Opposition, Mallikarjun Kharge, during his speech, directly stated that the House is being disrupted because the Home Minister is not showing himself. However, his speech was cut short as the chair deemed he was not speaking on the bill.

The opposition leaders continued to raise slogans demanding that the Prime Minister and House Minister should answer their questions on Ram Temple donation theft and police brutality against students on July 20 Parliament march. Amid the ruckus, the House was adjourned till 11 AM on Wednesday August 5, 2026.

As the Question Hour commenced in Rajya Sabha at 12:00 PM on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, the opposition continued shouting their slogans, demanding Prime Minister to be present in the House. The opposition leaders demanded that the PM address the donation theft in Ayodhya Ram Mandir, as the government had established the Temple Trust after the Supreme Court verdict in 2019.

Pralhad Joshi, Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, and Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Minister of Finance, answered a few questions in Rajya Sabha before the House was adjourned till 2 PM.

As proceedings began in the Lok Sabha, the House broke into chaos as Opposition members started sloganeering. Speaker Om Birla, trying to maintain decorum, stated that the House is not a not a forum to raise slogans or to display placards. As the chanting of slogans continued, the House was adjourned till 2pm.

In the Rajya Sabha, Opposition members caused an uproar over the Ram Mandir Donation Theft controversy. The House was thereafter adjourned till 12pm.

On Monday, August 3, 2026, Rajya Sabha passed the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Amendment Bill, 2026, amid opposition's slogans and protest.

The bill proposes amendment to 2006 act, giving courts the authority to order payment of at least 50% of the awarded amount to MSME suppliers if the application to set aside an order is pending for more than six months.

As the opposition kept demanding the presence of Home Minister and Prime Minister in the House, Rajya Sabha was adjourned till 11 AM on August 4, 2026.

The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, introduced by Union Minister of Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal, was passed in the Lok Sabha without discussion as opposition continued their sloganeering in the house, demanding House Minister Amit Shah's presence.

This Bill will increase the number of judges in the apex court from 33 to 37, bringing the total capacity to 38 including CJI.

The house was adjourned till 11 AM on August 4, 2026.

Proceedings resumed in the Rajya Sabha as the House took up discussion on the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill. This legislation seeks to amend the MSME Development Act, 2006, and empowers courts to direct payment of at least 50% of the amount awarded to MSME suppliers if an application to set aside the award remains pending for over six months.

Uproar ensued in the House as Opposition chanted slogans of "We want justice" and demanded that Union Home Minister Amit Shah address the police brutality committed against student protestors during the July 20 Parliament march. Proceedings in the House remain ongoing amidst Opposition protests.

After proceedings resumed in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs introduced the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026. This Bill seeks to increase strength of Supreme Court judges, increasing the current number from from 33 to 37, excluding the Chief Justice of India. This move aimed to address the backlog of pending cases in the apex court.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced the Bankers’ Books Evidence Bill, while Minister of State Rao Inderjit Singh introduced the Indian Statistical Institute Bill. The two Bills were tabled shortly before proceedings were disrupted again owing to Opposition protests.

Thereafter, the Lok Sabha was again adjourned till 2pm.

During Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha, opposition members broke into an uproar over Union Home Minister Amit Shah's absence in the House. As the House broke into a din, Chairperson C. P. Radhakrishnan adjourned the Rajya Sabha till 2pm.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology will be convening at 4 pm today on August 3, 2026, to discuss the regulation of social and digital media platforms. The committee will be chaired by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey.

Representatives from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the Ministry of Home Affairs, and major platforms including Snapchat, Google, X, Meta (Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram) and YouTube will brief the panel on the subject "Social and Digital Platforms and Their Regulation."

This meeting comes after Facebook removed one of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's post, subsequent to which Meta issued an apology. This instance has sparked a discussion on content moderation and platform accountability.

Opposition leaders held a skit in parliament complex, enacting the donation theft at Ayodhya ram mandir. Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, Leaders Of Opposition in both houses, were part of the protest against the donation theft and police brutality against student on July 20 Parliament march. One of opposition demands remain that Home Minister Amit Shah answers to the parliament on the alleged use of lathi charge, pellet guns and tear gas during the protest.

The bill, introduced by Union Minister Nityanand Rai, proposes an amendment to the Registration of Births and Death Act, 1969. It has made reporting birth and deaths to the registrar stricter, mandating that a birth and death registered after a more than a year but within two years may only be approved with the approval of the District Magistrate, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, or an Executive Magistrate, following the verification of the authenticity of the birth or death. It further adds that if a birth or death is registered after more than two years, it can only be done by the order of a Judicial Magistrate of the First Class.

Amid Opposition uproar and protests, discussion on the bill was skipped. Kiren Rijiju, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs showed dismay over opposition's uproar before the chair moved to vote on the motion. The bill was passed in the Lok Sabha through voice vote and the lower house was adjourned till 11 AM on Monday, August 3, 2026.

The Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, was passed in Rajya Sabha on July 30, 2026 after Jitendra Singh concluded his response to the questions raised in the house.

Replying in the Rajya Sabha on the Public Examinations Amendment Bill, MoS Jitendra Singh said the Opposition's claim of 152 paper leaks since 2014 remains unauthenticated. He also detailed the government's steps to prevent future leaks and strengthen the examination and education system nationwide.

BJP MP Kavitha Patidar has accused the opposition of politicising the paper leak issue and student suicides instead of genuinely addressing them. She questioned why no one demanded resignations after the 2012 Nirbhaya case, the Punjab paper leaks, or during Anna Hazare's anti-corruption protests, suggesting the opposition's outrage is selective and tied to convenience rather than principle. According to Patidar, this pattern shows the opposition isn't actually concerned about students' welfare, it is simply using their hardship as a political tool to attack the government, rather than working toward real solutions for the issues students are facing.

BJP MP Raghav Chadha, former AAP leader, said in Rajya Sabha, "Because I have spent enough time in this house critiquing government now I have the right to say that when it came to students, government heard their demands and took necessary actions. Fast-Track courts were setup. The investigation was handed to CBI, leading to arrest of 13 people, including the kingpin of the paper leak. In mere 75 days of the investigation, meaning two days earlier, a chargesheet was filed in fast-track court. Even our Education minister resigned on moral grounds and cases against student protesters were withdrawn. And from next year, the NEET paper leak will be conducted via computer-based system to eliminate all chances of paper leak."

After the National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, was passed in the Rajya Sabha yesterday, Lok Sabha followed suit and passed it in the house on July 30, 2026. The amendment gives the National Song Vande Mataram the same legal protection as national anthem and national flag, as a symbol of national honour. The bill criminalises any offense to the national song under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971. Lok Sabha passed the bill through voice vote and the house was subsequently adjourned till 11 AM on July 31.

Concluding his speech, Mallikarjun Kharge laid out four demands in Rajya Sabha including suggestions for education reforms and Law & Order. These were:

1. A fixed annual examination calendar, so that students don't have to face delays in results and exam dates.

2. The paper leak investigation should be administered by Supreme court under an independent high-powered community.

3. The vacancies in teaching posts and public sector should be filled immediately.

4. The incidents of Law & Order violations like the use of lathi charge, pellet guns, women being dragged, atrocities against students should be inquired under High court. Kharge said, "Home Minister should take responsibility and give resignation if he can't answer."

Kharge said, "There are more than 30 lakh job vacancies in central government including public sector, banking, government institutions etc. But why they are not filling these? Because 50% vacancies goes to Scheduled Castes. They don't want to enroll backward castes and give jobs to poor families. That is their intention. I urge that Public sector posts should be filled urgently."

Kharge said, "They talk about equality in the education system but under the curriculum you are introducing, we are also seeing these following changes." While alleging that Manusmriti is being taught in the curriculum, LoP quoted the alleged text. He said, "It teaches that if a Shudra listens to Ved, his ears should be filled with shards. If he reads Ved aloud, his tongue should be cut. And if he assumes the word of the Ved, his body should be dismembered."

JP Nadda intervened into the matter and demanded that the text should be authenticated and only the original text before the British period should be quoted.

Kharge claims, "152 paper have been leaked over the last decade and under Modi's government over 1.25 lakh students have committed suicide. The center has only focused on damage control. These fast-track courts and increased imprisonment do not address the core issue."

Pointing out the rampant irregularities and delays in public exams, he added, "Exam results are delayed for months on end, with no accountability. We demand a time-bound annual calendar for public examinations, so the center is answerable if there are any delays in the timeline."

He continued, "Only four out of 10 students complete higher education till class 12. Over 10 lakh teaching posts are vacant. If there are no teachers no education policy can succeed. Now, the education background is not important, there is only one criteria for selecting professors and vice chancellor: whether they are attached to RSS or not"

Kharge questioned the police brutality in Rajya Sabha, "Why is center silent on the brutality against the students in Assam, Bihar and other states? AK-47 was used in Bihar and yet there is no answer from the government. Don't they feel any shame over these incidents? And after all this the outgoing education minister was welcomed to the parliament like he has come after winning Kargil War."

LoP continued, "One Minister's resignation doesn't reform the education system. The system is still the same. There is still no attempt to improve the it. And if corrective measures are not taken we will again be having another discussion on another paper leak in a few months."

He claims that this is not the first time the NEET issue has been brought up. He said, "NEET was leaked since 2015, 2016, 2021, 2024 till 2026. Each time 'Modi's guarantee' failed. They had the main culprit of 2024 leak in custody, and now he is out on bail. What's the point of fast-track courts then?"

Kharge said, "Who gave the order to lathi charge and use of pellet guns on July 20? You could've answered this with one statement but you want to protect the Home Minister. You won't be able to protect him for long. Under whose control does Police, CRPF, RAF comes? Nation wants the answer to such questions. If he can't answer these questions he should resign. The PM should also ask these questions to him. But I don't whether he has the courage to ask his Home Minister or not. And if he doesn't have the courage then he should also resign."

Kharge questioned the absence and silence of Home Minister. He said, "If you had listened to students' demands from the first day, you wouldn't have to use lathi charge against them. Why hasn't the Home Minister shown his face in the parliament since the protest? Why is he silent? Is his mouth stitched?"

He continued, "On their peaceful march to parliament on July 20, students wanted to be heard, they wanted respect, but they got lathi charge, tear gas, pellet guns. Their eyes, ears, legs were broken. Home Minister ordered these atrocities. I know you are hearing me behind closed walls but we will pull you out in public to answer to them!"

Kharge continued, "This bill is only brought to calm down the youth agitation in the country. I congratulate the youth forces that the government had to bow down to their demands. However, the center has only listened to the protestors to save their seat, not to acknowledge the concerns. If they were so concerned why were their issue not taken up from the first day of the protest? Only after months of agitation that they asked them to have a discussion in their chambers, not on the streets."

Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition, said, "More punishment for the accused will not change the paper leak issue. We had asked for these stricter provision in 2024 itself. Why wasn't the opposition's suggestions taken up earlier? The 2024 act was brough in haste, that is why you have to now amend it in 2024. We welcome this amendment bill but it is still incomplete. It still doesn't have provision to crack down against paper leak."

Jitendra Singh highlighted the past history of paper leaks during the UPA government. He emphasized the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 was monumental move from the government in cracking down paper leaks as it made the offence cognisable. He further adds that the latest 2026 amendment to the bill shows government's resolute in listening to the students grievances.

He further give details of the amendments to the 2024 act. The new provisions include the guilty to face imprisonment for upto 10 years and fine of up to ₹50 lakh. The service providers who are caught in the paper leak racket will be fined up to ₹10 crore. In addition, the government has also set up special task forces and fast-track courts to investigate the cases thoroughly.

Union Minister J P Nadda accused the opposition of deliberately disrupting proceedings in the Parliament ever since the monsoon session began. Mr. Nadda said that the government is willing to discuss any matters that the opposition raises.

Sloganeering broke out in the Rajya Sabha as the House convened. Amidst Home Minister Amit Shah's noticeable absence in the Parliament since the monsoon session began, opposition members raised the slogans of "Amit Shah sadan mai aao" (Amit shah come to the Parliament).

Opposition leaders on Thursday, July 30, 2026, staged a protest inside the Parliament against the police crackdown on student protestors during the July 20 Jantar Mantar protest.

Minutes after proceedings for the day commenced in the Lok Sabha, the House was adjourned till 2pm.

Jitendra Singh while discussing the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 and government's action against paper leak said, "We wanted a serious discussion on this bill as evident from PM's actions against the recent paper leak. We were informed of the paper leak on 7-8 July. On July 12, the case was handed to the CBI and 13 accused were taken into custody immediately. Simultaneously, 92 locations were raided. And it is my pleasure to announce that yesterday chargesheet was filed and the trial has begun from today. The decision in the case will be done within five months, the first two months will be investigation followed by trial in the next three months."

He concluded his remarks by reiterating the provisions of Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2026 and acknowledged the students' suicide. He said, "If any student commits suicide, we are as painful as anyone in this country. However, the rate of suicide over the issue of paper leak has also reduced in the last few years."

After the speech from the Minister, the speaker called for a voice vote. Consequently, the Anti-paper leak was passed in the Lok Sabha.

Minister of State, Jitendra Singh said, "We brought the National Education Policy in 2020, which liberated our children from being stuck in the streams they took up in class 12, and gave them aptitudnal freedom. If the child takes medical field as an adolescent they are not stuck to be a doctor for the rest of their lives. They can become writer, a mathematician and has freedom to change their field."

He added, "Our government has contributed in medical education as well. AIIMS went up from 7 to 22, government medical colleges increased from 387 to 844. MBBS seats increased from 51,300 to 1,39,000. PG seats, 31,100 to 86,300."

Responding to opposition’s claim that no action has been taken, Jitendra Singh said, “52 FIRs have been filed since 2024 after the bill was passed. Priyanka Gandhi's claim that 152 papers were leaked is unsubstantiated and no data was given behind this made-up number.”

Listing out the government’s contribution in the educations sector Singh claimed that under the BJP government universities are increased from 760 to 1,293 and higher education institute increased from 51,534 to 64,896.

Responding to the allegations, Jitendra Singh clarified that a minister can't order the use of force, it has to be done by the magistrate. He said, "Throwing irresponsible allegations without facts is not acceptable in the parliament."

On July 21, Leader of the Opposition sat outside the 7, LKM [Lok Kalyan Marg] at Prime Minister's house. Maybe it was his inner desire that he wanted to sit inside that house for so long. He got, what Gen Z called, FOMO, Fear of Missing Out, that is why sat outside PM's House.

He further claims that "utmost restrain was exercised to handle the student protestors."

Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister of State, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, who introduced the bill in the house, spoke to respond to the opposition's questions. He said, "It is very regretful to see the opposition, rather than giving suggestion and discussing the merits of the bill, are endulging in politics instead. The kind of words used by the leader of the opposition are unparliamentary. He can't even call himself an 'idiot' in the house."

"The use of force can only be authorized by either the Home Minister or the Prime Minister," LoP Rahul Gandhi continued his speech in Lok Sabha but was shortly interrupted again by the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju.

Rijiju demanded Gandhi to provide any order number, enquiry or any report behind his baseless allegations against the Home Minister. Speaker Om Birla also reiterated the concerns, urging the Leader of the Opposition to be responsible in his use of words without providing any evidence or enquiry into the matter.

As the BJP MPs broke into an uproar, demanding an apology from Gandhi, the latter refused to speak further until the house was in order. The House was adjourned till 2:30 PM amid the ruckus.

Akhilesh Yadav, Samajwadi Party MP, came in support of Gandhi, demanding answers from the ruling party. He said, "If the leader of the opposition has raised an issue, the government should be answerable on whose order did the police acted in such a way against the students."

The Leader of the Opposition said, "The Home Minister doesn't have the courage to come and sit here. He is not here today 'cause he is scared. He authorized the shooting of our students. He put pellets into the blood of our students. He ordered the students of India to be shot."

The Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju immediately intervened and called it an unsubstantiated allegation from the Congress leader. While targeting Gandhi, Rijiju said it is a "breach of his position and privilege."

Gandhi said, "The soul of the education system is being captured by the RSS. The resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan is superficial. The organisation that runs the education ministry is RSS. What the students are really irritated about is that they are not allowed to be students in India. They are not allowed to follow their passion. They are not allowed to question. They have to buy this nonsensical history that RSS fantasizes about. Every university in India has a vice chancellor from RSS. They are the people who want the you (the students) to become andhbhakts."

While praising students' resolve, Gandhi said, "the students rejected to be andhbhakts."

Rahul Gandhi said, "The other category (those who are against students) don't like the truth. They need an image, force, and violence. Superficially, it look our students are upset over exams. They study for hours and hours and then paper leaks. A rich man's child can buy the exam paper but a middle class child is stuck in the system. Rampant privatisation means private companies are checking exams, wrong papers and marks are going. It is a brutal, terrible system. It is an extortion system."

Kiren Rijiju interfered LoP's speech, calling Rahul Gandhi's language "unparliamentary." The Minister of Parliamentary Affairs said, "He is using the name of a student to use unparliamentary words in the house. It should be struck down from record."

Gandhi maintains that he didn't use the words to describe anyone in the parliament.

"Humility most important aspect of students," LoP remarked in the Parliament. While recalling an encounter with a young female student, Rahul Gandhi claims that she defined two categories of people in this world: Students and Idiots.

While not taking names, Gandhi claims that those who are against the students are idiots. The remark caused a ruckus in the parliament as MPs from the ruling party claiming that Gandhi's language is not appropriate.

Gandhi continued, adding his own third category "andhbhakts." He said, "Andhbhakts are those who follow these idiots."

Leader of Opposition, addressing the recent protest by students, said, "This was not hatred, violence on the streets. It was expression of the youth of the nation"

As proceedings resumed in the Upper House, opposition members started chanting the slogans "home Minister sadan mein aao” (Home Minister, come to the house). As the House broke into a din, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned till 2pm.

Proceedings in the Rajya Sabha began with Opposition's sloganeering, as they demanded action over the police brutality committed against student protestors during the Jantar Mantar protest. Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge remarked that people in this country are no longer safe and stated that "democracy is under threat."

As Mr. Kharge demanded accountability in this matter, Union Minister J P Nadda defended the police action against student protesters, stating that law enforcement had acted in accordance with the situation. Mr. Nadda said that he too had been arrested and jailed during the Emergency. “Any student activist involved in protests knows what he or she is in for,” he said.

The Rajya Sabha was adjourned till 12pm.

In her speech in the parliament, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Congress MP, attacked Pralhad Joshi, claiming that the new Union Education Minister once defended the rapists of a pregnant woman, referring to Bilkis Bano. The Congress MP said, "The Prime Minister appointed a new Education Minister, a person who expressed consent and even happiness over the release of those convicted of raping a pregnant woman."

The comments sparked an uproar in Lok Sabha as the Union Ministers Kiren Rijiju and Pralhad Joshi himself immediately intervened, demanding apology from Gandhi. Rijiju said, "This amounts to character assassination within Parliament, and we do not expect such language...These statements should be expunged from the record. Secondly, such language should not be used...She should apologise to the House."

The new education minister also hit back, and reacted to the allegations, saying, "Priyanka ji should have authenticated her statements. Action should be taken regarding the misinformation being spread. Can one simply say anything and get away with it?... I refute these allegations. She should be expelled and must apologise."

Addressing the appointment of the new Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi, Rahul Gandhi slammed his past remarks on the rapists of Bilkis Bano. The Leader of Opposition while talking to the media said, "After all these young people were protesting about the education system, and so many girls have been beaten and thrashed, the BJP puts a man who is a defender of rapists. That is the filthiest kind of man. There can be no filthier man than somebody who says that rapists need protection. That is the Education Minister of India today. It's a strange reaction from the Prime Minister to have so many people in his Cabinet. He could have chosen any one of them, but he chose a person who protects rapists."

Priyanka Gandhi, Congress MP from Wayanad, attacked the government's handling of the student protests, alleging the use of tear gas, lathis, and pellet guns against them. She said, "What was the need to use pellet guns on the country's youth? Are they terrorists? [...] Home Minister Amit Shah must answer who authorized the use of pellet guns on protesting students."

She further slammed the irregularities in the education system, claiming that it has been filled with RSS pracharaks (campaigners). The congress MP also said that no accused in paper mafia gang has been punished. She said, "They have hollowed out our education system by filling it with RSS pracharaks. They further complicated matters by forcibly establishing the NTA and centralising the system. Instead of increasing year by year, the share of the education budget in the country’s total budget is actually declining."

Abhishek Banerjee, All India Trinamool Congress MP, while extending his support for the Public Examinations (Prevent of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, claims that his support should be seen as a substitute for accountability. According to the AITC leader, the golden era promised by the government has now become an anxiety era for students as they have failed to tackle the paper leak issue despite passing the bill back in 2024.

He said, “Governments are not remembered for speeches made. They promised Amrit Kaal and faced Anxiety Kaal. You must feel ashamed that you brought a Bill in 2024 and need an amendment. Every student deserves the assurance that the examination needs to be fair. The support for this Bill cannot be a substitute for accountability.”

Akhilesh Yadav, Samajwadi Party leader, condemned the tributes paid to the outgoing education minister Dharmendra Pradhan despite his failure to prevent the paper leaks.

He questioned the legitimacy of the new amendment bill, questioning if the bill was already passed in 2024, then how are the issue of paper leak still prevalent after two years. Yadav claims that the NTA posts being outsourced is a major irregularity in the administration of the body that is responsible for the management of the exams.

The SP leader alleges more failures in the education system, claiming that Uttar Pradesh has seen the closure of most primary schools across the country. He also claims that the failure is also seen in the senior secondary education, alleging leaks in 10th and 12th board exams as well.

Kiren Rijiju, Minister of Parliamentary affairs, intervened, comparing the government's action to be far better than that of Emergency imposed by the Congress to curb dissenting voices. However, Yadav claims that what happened in Jantar Mantar to the protestors is nothing short of Emergency, alleging lathi charge, pellet guns, and shock batons were used against the students.

Gaurav Gogoi, Congress MP from Jorhat, Assam, slams the new Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill. He claims that the introduction of this bill proves that the ruling party is "unserious" about the paper leaks in the education system. Gogoi claims that same act was introduced in the 2024 and just increasing the sentence on the criminals is not enough to crack down the nationwide issue.

He further claims that 44 out of 45 of the accused caught in 2024 exam paper leak, are now out on bail, with no further action taken to find other masterminds behind the NEET controversy.

The Congress MP also demands answers about the NTA posts. He alleges that there are only 34 official posts listed in NTA. Thus, removal of 47 officials shows irregularity and raises issues about outsourcing official posts without legal framework.

The Assam MP also slammed the education ecosystem under the BJP, calling the advisory of not attending protests issued by DU, IIT, JNU as a major crackdown on dissenting voices.

Ending his arguments, Gogoi commends the youth of the country for standing up against the alleged police brutality and demands answers from the Home Minister Amit Shah on the the alleged pellet guns and lathi charge against the students.

Lok Sabha Hon'ble Speaker, Om Birla presided over the hearings as the discussion on the new bill begins in the parliament.

Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State, from Prime Minister's Office, started introducing the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, calling it a "milestone" amendment to the 2024 act that was passed by the same government. He listed the paper leaks under the UPA government, claiming even 2024 act passed by the NDA-government was an unprecedented crackdown on unfair means in public examination.

Singh calls the formation of National Testing Agency (NTA) in 2017 as a long overdue task which should have realized by the UPA government.

Speaking on the amendments, the new bill extends the imprisonment of criminals to five to ten years, which earlier stood at three to five years. The fine was also increased from ₹10 lakh to ₹50 lakh.

Moreover, any service provider, found guilty of the malpractice will be liable to to pay the fine of ₹5 crore, increased from earlier ₹1 crore.

Singh further introduces implementation of fast-track court with the time of proceedings set for two months. In the cases of further complaints it can be extended to five months at most for the final judgement.

The MoS reiterated the Prime Minister's message to form a Special Task Force led by Nandan Nilekani to further crack down on the paper leak issue

The Rajya Sabha broke into a din after proceedings began in the House. Amidst the ruckus, Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan adjourned the House till 2pm.

As the day's proceedings commenced in the Lok Sabha, Speaker Om Birla began by mentioning the 13 Indian players who won medals in the Commonwealth Games, 2026. After he concluded, ruckus broke out in the House. Despite the speaker's repeated calls to bring the House under decorum, the chaos continued. Thereafter, the Lok Sabha was adjourned till 2pm.

Shortly after the Lok Sabha reconvened at 5 pm, Krishna Prasad Tenneti, who was in the Chair, adjourned the Lok Sabha for the day. The House will reconvene at 11 am on July 28, 2028. According to The Hindu, the Opposition has continued its protest over the alleged police brutality against the protesters during their peaceful demonstration in Delhi. The Opposition has demanded a statement from PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the matter.

According to ANI, Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi has demanded answers from Home Minister Amit Shah over the alleged police brutality during the CJP-led Jantar Mantar protest. He said, "The images of police brutality emerging from across the country are unfortunate. Students have taken to the streets to voice their demands; engage in dialogue with them, do not use AK-47s against them... You will have to come to Parliament and answer for this."

According to PTI, the newly introduced anti-paper leak bill is set to punish those involved with a minimum prison term of five years and a fine of up to Rs 50 lakh. If an individual is linked to organised crime, they may face a minimum prison sentence of seven years and a fine of up to Rs 10 crore.

On July 27, 2026 union minister Jitendra Singh introduced the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 in Lok Sabha.

After proceeding began for the day in the Lok Sabha, opposition demanded for a discussion on the police using brute force on student protestors during Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) Parliament march. As opposition broke into sloganeering, Speaker Om Birla adjourned the House till 12pm.

Proceedings in the Rajya Sabha echoed the debate that happened in Lok Sabha. After Opposition raised the issue of police action against students protesting against NEET paper leak, the House was adjourned till 12pm.

Union Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing Industries Ravneet Singh Bittu resigned from his position on Friday, July 25, 2026. President Droupadi Murmu has accepted his resignation with immediate effect. The former cabinet minister’s tenure in the Rajya Sabha reportedly ended on June 21, 2026.

According to media sources, Prime Minisiter Narendra Modi has told the union ministers to increase Instagram presence, citing example of his own video shared late last night. Times Now reports that during the cabinet meeting on Friday, July 24, 2026, the message given by the PM was to focus on followers count and connect with youth via Instagram, not just X. The report also claims that the PM also told his cabinet to post more reels and promote government schemes on the social media.

On July 24, 2026, Friday evening, the Union Cabinet held a meeting amid the CJP protest in Jantar Mantar, discussing stricter laws for paper leak. The meeting comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared a video message announcing a new bill will be tabled in the parliament. According to reports the cabinet has approved the Public Examinations Amendment Bill, 2024 and will likely table it on Monday, July 27, 2026 in the Parliament.

The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill was tabled in the Upper House. The bill, colloquially known as the Vande Mataram Bill, proposes giving India's national song Vande Mataram the same legal status and protection as the national anthem Jana Gana Mana. 

CPI (M) Party Leader, John Brittas, had given a notice in the House under Rule 67 of the Rajya Sabha. Objecting to the bill, he remarked: “They cannot manufacture patriotism and nationalism through a piece of legislation.”

CPI MP Sandosh Kumar stated that the Vande Mataram Bill was introduced to distract from the ongoing students’ protest. Replying to Kumar’s comment, Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha Harivansh Narayan Singh asked the MP to speak on the matter alone without diverting.

“I love Vande Mataram but I oppose this bill because it wants to create division between Tagore and Bankim Chandra,” Mr. Kumar said.

As the House broke into a din, Deputy Chair Harivansh Narayan Singh adjourned the Rajya Sabha till Monday, July 27, 2026. Proceedings will resume from 11am on Monday in the house. 

Opposition MPs, including Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, raised slogans demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation. The uproar continued even as Speaker Om Birla called for the House to maintain decorum. The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day. The house will convene Monday on July 27, 2026, at 11am.

After the Upper House began its proceedings, opposition broke into sloganeering demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation. Chair C.P. Radhakrishnan adjourned the House till 2 pm.

Both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have been adjourned till 12pm as uproar ensued in both the houses.

The Rajya Sabha broke into a din as Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge begin speaking on police action, including lathi charge, on protesting students in central Delhi. Amidst the uproar, Chairman C. P. Radhakrishnan adjourned proceedings till noon.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla adjourned the House till noon amid opposition protest.

PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI, on July 24, 2026, has said that the Central government has prepared a comprehensive draft Bill to introduce stricter provisions and stringent punishments for paper leak cases. 

The proposal will be discussed in the Union Cabinet meeting on Friday and is expected to be introduced and passed in the ongoing session of Parliament next week.

Addressing the deep distress caused by paper leaks to students and their families, the Prime Minister said on Thursday that the Union government has taken multiple measures over the past two-and-a-half months, leading to the arrest and imprisonment of those responsible.

"I am aware that paper leaks cause immense distress to students and their parents," he added.

Highlighting the Union government's priority to safeguard the future of examinees, PM Modi on his X account said that all resources were mobilised to conduct examinations without delay for nearly 22 lakh (2.2 million) students.

"The results were declared just five days ago on July 19, and we are receiving news of the joy felt by successful students across the country," he added.

The Prime Minister emphasised that the Union government will not rest on its laurels.

He personally worked tirelessly to prepare a strong proposal for fast-track courts and stringent punishments for those involved in examination malpractices.

"This matter is likely to be discussed in the Cabinet tomorrow, and the proposal will be finalised after incorporating suggestions from Cabinet colleagues," he told.

"As the second week of the Parliamentary session begins on Monday, we will strive to have the Bill passed in the House as quickly as possible," PM Modi asserted.

The proposed legislation is being viewed as a decisive step to deter future incidents of paper leaks and ensure the integrity of competitive examinations.

Sources indicate that the Bill will include harsher penalties, time-bound trials through fast-track special courts, and stronger accountability measures for institutions and individuals involved in such crimes.

The announcement comes amid growing public concern over recurring leaks in major entrance and recruitment examinations.

By promising swift legislative action, the Union government aims to restore confidence among millions of aspirants who prepare rigorously for these exams every year. (IANS)

In Rajya Sabha, Deputy Chairman Shri Harivansh presided over the proceedings as the opposition and the ruling party reiterated their stance. Kiren Rijiju, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, claims the government is ready to discuss the NEET paper leak in a civil manner, but the opposition continued to demand Dharemendra Pradhan's resignation. Deputy chairman adjourned the upper house till 11:00 AM on July 24, 2026.

In the Lok Sabha, Kiren Rijiju, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, reiterated Prime Minister's message on NEET paper leak that the culprits will be punished via a process through fast-track court. "We are open to discussion and suggestions from the opposition on the issue."

Amid the continuous ruckus from the opposition, the Chairperson Dilip Saikia adjourned the house till 2 PM.

In Rajya Sabha, Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan presided over the proceedings and adjourned the house amid the uproar from the opposition leaders.

Proceedings began in the Lok Sabha amidst uproar caused by the opposition over discussion on the NEET paper leak issue, police action against student protesters, and demand for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Speaker Om Birla made repeated calls to the members to allow the house to function.  “I appeal to all MPs of the government and the Opposition to come after the Question Hour and discuss the issue within the rules of the House,” Mr. Birla said. 

The Lok Sabha has been adjourned till 12pm today.

In the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju says that the government is ready to discuss the NEET paper leak issue, but the opposition must not put certain conditions. Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge said that the opposition is not running away from discussing the NEET paper issue. He said for the discussion to happen, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan must resign.

Amidst opposition uproar, Chairperson C.P. Radhakrishnan adjourned the House till 12pm.

Deputy Chairman Shri Harivansh urged the members to reach a consensus and proceed with the proposed discussion on education in a civil manner.

Kiren Rijiju, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, claimed that the government is ready to discuss the NEET Paper leak in the parliament but Congress is needlessly putting conditions before the discussion can even begin.

Leader of Opposition Malikarjun Kharge, reiterated the argument of the DMK MP, Tiruchi Siva, claiming that this is the "rarest of rare" cases that meets the criteria for urgent discussion under rule 267. The opposition is seeking an immediate discussion on NEET paper leak, police brutality, and detention of congress leaders under this urgent hearing rule.

However, the deputy chairman reiterated that the Chairman and Hon'ble Speaker has already clarified the matter. As commotion continued, the house was adjourned till 11:00 AM on July 23, 2026.

In the Rajya Sabha, Leader of Opposition Mallikharjun Kharge says that Union Education minister Dharmendra Pradhan must resign if a fair discussion about the paper leak case were to happen. He also said that a discussion about the NEET examination should happen in the House under Rule 267.

Speaking about Rule 267 of the Rajya Sabha, Deputy Chairman Harivansh said that the rule should be used only on the “rarest of the rare” occasions. In response, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MP Tiruchi Siva says what is happening in the country now should be considered a “rare occasion”.

Mr. Harivansh adjourned the House till 3 p.m.

Chairperson Krishna Prasad Tenneti presided over the Lok Sabha proceeding at 2:00 PM. The opposition leaders kept demanding Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation while the chairperson rattled through the items on the agenda.

The chairperson ruled that proposals of Dr. Sudhir Gupta was accepted under rule 377. He also claimed there were complaints received over "anti-women" remarks made by TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee. Chairperson reprimanded them as "unparliamentary and unconstitution" while ordering the proceedings to begin. Banerjee's suspension proposal was then accepted and he was suspended for the rest of the Monsoon session.

Tenneti adjourned the lower house till 11:00 AM on July 23 amid as opposition leaders refused to settle down.

The third day of the Parliament’s monsoon session saw a similar fate as the days before. Minutes after the proceedings in the Lok Sabha, the house broke into an uproar over the opposition’s demands it had put forth earlier. Speaker Om Birla pleaded to the opposition to let Question Hour commence. As the opposition continued its protest, Mr. Birla adjourned the Lok Sabha till 12pm. 

Later, after the house reconvened, Congress MP K.C. Venugopal raised the issue of question paper leaks and the police crackdown on Delhi protests and also said that Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan must resign. 

Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju said that the government is ready to discuss the NEET paper leak issue, with the details to be nailed down after a consultation with floor leaders of all the parties. 

Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav emphasized that the issue is centered on the future of the youth. He says that all parties should be allowed to speak on the issue. The SP leader then asks why can’t Prime Minister Narendra Modi make a statement on the students' issue in Parliament.

Despite Union Minister Kiren Rijiju's assurances that the paper leak would be discussed, the opposition continued its protest. Speaker Om Birla again adjourned the house till 2pm.

In the Rajya Sabha, Leader of Opposition Mallikharjun Kharge raised the issue of the police’s crackdown and usage of batons on student protestors. Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan adjourned the house till 12pm. Amidst opposition’s protest, the house gets adjourned again till 2pm.

As the third day of the Parliament’s monsoon session is set to begin in a short few hours, Congress Leader Pawan Khera has reiterated the party’s four key demands over the Police’s alleged brutal crackdown on student protestors. The Congress leader have also called for the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and says that they must be held accountable.

Pawan Khera also said Prime Minister Narendra Modi owed the country, "especially the young people who were beaten and humiliated on the streets of Delhi", an unconditional apology.

Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, his sister Priyanka Gandhi, his INDIA bloc ally and Samajwadi Party Leader Akhilesh Yadav, and other Congress leaders were detained by Delhi Police from outside the Prime Minister's residence at Lok Kalyan Marg. Opposition leaders were protesting outside Narendra Modi's home over the police brutality witnessed in the CJP's Chalo Sansad march on July 20, 2026, which seriously injured students part of the protest. They were also agitating over the education irregularities, raising the same demand as the protesting students at Jantar Mantar: resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Both the houses were yet again adjourned just minutes after the proceedings were scheduled to begin at 2:00 PM.

In Rajya Sabha, Deputy Chairman Shri Harivansh called for the members to settle down, but the commotion continued. Just one minute after the proceedings began, the deputy chairman announced that the upper house is adjourned till 11:00 AM on Wednesday, July 22, 2026.

The lower house faced the same commotion as the chairperson Dilip Saikia called for the leaders to discuss 377 important points on the agenda. However, just three minutes after the proceedings Lok Sabha was also adjourned till 11:00 AM on July 22, 2026.

The second day of the Parliament's monsoon session faced disruptions yet again. Shortly after the proceedings began for the day, both the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha were adjourned till noon.

In the Rajya Sabha, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge raised the issue of police's brutal crackdown on the protestors led by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP). “Our students, who are raising their voice on paper leaks and NEET examination, were attacked, with lathi charge and tear gas shelling. They are in hospitals. Their issues need to be heard,” Kharge said.

An uproar ensued after Kharge’s remarks, and the Rajya Sabha was adjourned till noon. 

In the Lok Sabha, members broke out into uproar with chanting of slogans. Speaker Om Birla adjourned the Lower House till noon after members broke into sloganeering. “Members will get a chance to discuss the issues raised,” the Lok Sabha Speaker said. 

Floor leaders of the opposition parties are set to convene for a meeting at the office of Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge. The meeting is scheduled for 10am on Tuesday, July 21, 2026. The opposition leaders are expected to formulate their strategy for the second day of the Parliament's monsoon session. 

The monsoon season of the Parliament saw a turbulent start, as both the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha saw repeated disruptions and were later adjourned for the day. Opposition members raised their concerns about the NEET paper leak scandal and the Ram Mandir donation theft controversy. 

Amid the ruckus in Parliament, both the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha were adjourned once again and are scheduled to reconvene at 2:30 pm following Opposition protests. In the Lok Sabha, while Union minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju was speaking, Opposition MPs protested and displayed placards in the House despite MP Jagdambika Pal asking them not to do so. According to reports, the House has been adjourned once again until 2:30 pm. 

Right before the parliament was adjourned until 12:00 pm, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge raised the issue of the NEET question paper leak. He also highlighted the students protesting at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. He said, "This is a matter concerning students. I am speaking about the futures of lakhs of children." Referring to the lathi charge against the protesters, Kharge added, "The government is trying to use force, suppress voices, and drive them away."