Parliament: Rajya Sabha passes anti-paper leak bill; House adjourned till tomorrow | As it happened

The Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till tomorrow after the House passed the anti-paper leak bill.

The Rajya Sabha has passed the anti-paper leak bill, day after it received the Lok Sabha's nod.

Jitendra Singh said that a total of 10.96 lakh jobs created in NDA's 12 years tenure, while in Congress's tenure, 7.22 lakh jobs created. 

Union Minister of State Jitendra Singh slammed the opposition saying, "there is no data on 152 paper leaks as said by the opposition in the parliament." 

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, who introduced the anti-paper leak bill in the Rajya Sabha earlier in the day, will reply to the Upper House between 9 and 9.30 pm.

Samajwadi Party MP Awadhesh Prasad said on Thursday that everyone in India, including his party, respects the 'Vande Mataram' bill, but alleged that the government introduced this bill to divert attention so that there is no discussion regarding the Ram Mandir donations embezzlement. 

"We do not oppose the bill; we respect it. In fact, this provision already exists, so there was no need to bring a new bill; we all respect it," he told news agency ANI.

Chaos has once again erupted in the Rajya Sabha after Janata Dal (United) working president Sanjay Kumar Jha alleged that people were sent to the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest on the pretext of money, claiming that some anti-social elements tried to hijack the agitation.

Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, on Thursday lambasted the government over handling of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi and irregularities in NEET (UG) examination, and demanded the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the July 20 incident in the national capital. Click here to read more.

Union Cabinet meeting will be held tomorrow (31st July) in the Parliament at 1 PM, reports ANI.

The Lok Sabha has been adjourned for the day after the Lower House passed the bill to prevent insult to national song Vande Mataram.

The Lok Sabha has passed the bill to prevent insult to national song Vande Mataram, amid the continued uproar in the Lower House.

A massive uproar continued in the Rajya Sabha after opposition MPs demanded action against Union Minister Giriraj Singh, asking him to apologise over his remarks while veteran Congress MP Mallikarjun Kharge was speaking in the Upper House.

Following a row over Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge over his speech in Rajya Sabha during a debate on anti-paper leak bill, Union Minister JP Nadda asked for the original script of 'manusmriti'. Nadda said Kharge's remarks on 'manusmriti' can create unrest in society.

A ruckus has erupted in Rajya Sabha after BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi criticised Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge over his speech in the Upper House after the anti-paper leak bill was tabled in the House.

During debate on anti-paper leak bill, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said, "You didn't propose anti-paper leak Bill in 2024 as you felt it will not gain you much politically with LS polls approaching."

During debate on anti-paper leak bill, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill has been brought to pacify youth on streets, not to resolve paper leak.

Speaking during discussion on Anti-Paper Leak Bill, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, says, "So many innocent people suffered due to paper leaks... nothing is going to happen with this new Bill as only some data has been changed in old law. Provisions have been made for hefty fine, strict punishment, special task force, fast track courts, however, nothing is going to change. Real change will only happen how you conduct examinations. There is nothing new in the bill. We had demanded a strict law in 2024 itself, but our demand was rejected."

“Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not open their mouth or come to the Parliament to address the issue when the whole country was burning with students protests over NEET paper leaks. In small matters, Amit Shah ji used to come and keep his opinion in the Parliament, but where is he now?” Mallikarjun Kharge asked in Rajya Sabha.

The Central government brought this bill only to save their chair, not to address the real crisis of the students facing in the country, Mallikarjun Kharge said in Rajya Sabha.

“We welcome the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 but this is not complete. The Centre should tale more actions to prevent further paper leaks in the country. This bill will not solve the crisis faced by our students,” Mallikarjun Kharge said in Rajya Sabha.

Many innocent students and their parents suffered loss after the NEET paper was leaked, Mallikarjun Kharge said in Rajya Sabha.

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge speaks after Public Exams Amendment Bill tabled in Rajya Sabha 

The investigation of the paper leaks by the Special Task Force will be completed within a time period of 2-3 months, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said in Rajya Sabha.

MoS Jitendra Singh introduced anti-paper leak bill in Rajya Sabha, says, "This bill, as all of know, has been passed by the Lower House, 10 hours of discussion time was allotted over there. Discussion did take place notwithstanding frequent interruptions and notwithstanding the fact that the entire reply was made in the din. Now, the bill has come to the Upper House. The house of elders, the house of seniors, the house of wiser, the house of maturer."

Union Ministr Jitendra Singh said with the introduction of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, the unfinished task of the earlier UPA government has been completed by the Narendra Modi government.

Lok Sabha adjourned till 3 pm amid continuing uproar by opposition.

Public Exams Amendment Bill tabled in Rajya Sabha by Union Minister Jitendra Singh. The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 taken up for consideration and passing in Rajya Sabha.

Public Exams Amendment Bill to be tabled in Rajya Sabha at 2 pm 

Congress MP Pramod Tiwari says, "I want to know—Amit Shah comes to the Parliament complex but won't enter the House itself; so, who will provide the answers? Jitendra Singh cannot answer for the lathi charge, the disrespect shown to women, or the firing of AK-47s; only Amit Shah can answer that. We are calling upon him to do so, but he does not wish to come to the House... That is the issue we raised, and we staged a walkout until 2 PM."

Union Minister and Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha JP Nadda on Thursday accused the Opposition of deliberately disrupting Parliament and asserted that the Narendra Modi-led government was prepared to discuss every issue, saying the Opposition lacked substantive matters to raise. Addressing the Rajya Sabha, Nadda said the Opposition had focused on obstructing the functioning of the House since the beginning of the Monsoon Session. "The Opposition's role has been negative. Ever since the session began, their entire focus has been on disrupting and obstructing the proceedings of the House rather than allowing it to function. I have observed that the Opposition lacks any substantive issues. It is their habit to constantly shift the goalposts," Nadda said.

Addressing the Rajya Sabha, Congress leader Pramod Tiwari says, "Students were lathi-charged, pellet fire used; Home Minister Amit Shah should answer."

When asked about LS LoP Rahul Gandhi denying apology, BJP MP Kangana Ranaut says, "He will have to apologise, you cannot spread lies, cannot make such serious allegations, so he will have to apologise."

Samajwadi Party MPs hold a protest over Ram Mandir donation embezzlement case.

Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 2 pm on Thursday, minutes after the House convened, amid slogan-shouting by the Opposition over various issues. Speaker Om Birla urged the members to let the Question Hour continue, but faced with an unbudging Opposition, he adjourned the House till 2 pm. On Tuesday as well, the Question Hour could not function. However, the bill to amend the anti-paper leaks law, with provisions for stricter punishment of up to 10 years in jail and a Rs 50 lakh fine, was passed by voice vote.

Congress Rajya Sabha MP Randeep Singh Surjewala on Thursday submitted a formal notice under Rule 267, seeking the suspension of listed business to discuss alleged financial irregularities, embezzlement, and donation looting linked to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. In his notice addressed to the Rajya Sabha Secretary-General, Surjewala urged the Chair to set aside all pre-scheduled legislative work for an urgent, high-priority debate to establish government accountability.

Congress MP KC Venugopal says, "Who ordered the police action in Delhi? Who ordered the firing at the students in Delhi? We want an answer from the Home Minister of India. Why is the Home Minister of India running away from Parliament?... You are not even allowing the LoP to speak..."

Congress MPs including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and others hold a protest at Makar Dwar of the Parliament, against Union Home Minister Amit Shah over 'police action' against CJP protestors on 20th July.

Reacting to Rahul Gandhi’s remarks during anti-paper leak bill debate, Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC says, “Rahul Gandhi should not be called the Leader of the Opposition; he should be called the Leader of Propaganda. All the Opposition is doing is running away from discussion. They want disruption, not debate. They have nothing constructive to offer, which is why they keep making remarks about the Prime Minister and the Home Minister. If they are serious about the core issues, then they should discuss every issue concerning students and youth at every level. We have no problem discussing the Anti-Paper Leak Bill. But if they try to turn this into a matter of 'you versus us,' they should understand that we will prevail, because they have nothing meaningful to contribute.”

Chennai, Tamil Nadu: On Rahul Gandhi's remarks, BJP spokesperson CR Kesavan says, "... Rahul Gandhi is a fake Gandhi who lacks even basic integrity. He is the polar opposite of Mahatma Gandhi. And this fake Gandhi, in the most vile and mendacious manner, blatantly lied yesterday about the Home Minister. It is very clear that Rahul Gandhi came with a premeditated agenda to manufacture mayhem and disrupt parliamentary proceedings. Rahul Gandhi, with his uncivilized behavior and uncultured language, dishonored and disrespected the dignity of the temple of our democracy, Parliament..."

The Rajya Sabha is also expected to take up the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, for consideration and passing. The Bill seeks to strengthen the legal framework against examination malpractices by enhancing punishments for paper leaks, increasing fines, providing for Special Task Forces to investigate examination-related offences, and establishing Special Fast Track Courts for time-bound trials. The House is also scheduled to consider and pass the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026, to further amend the MSME Development Act, 2006.

In the Rajya Sabha, papers will be laid by ministers representing the Ministries of Culture, Earth Sciences, Communications, Labour and Employment, Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and External Affairs. The Upper House will also table the same two reports of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs and hear statements from Union Ministers Jitendra Singh and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on the implementation of parliamentary committee recommendations.

As per the List of Business, the Lok Sabha will begin proceedings at 11 am with Question Hour, followed by the laying of papers by Ministers from the Ministries of Housing and Urban Affairs and Civil Aviation. The House will also receive two reports of the Standing Committee on External Affairs, including reports on "India's Role and Presence in the Arctic and Antarctic Regions" and the action taken by the government on recommendations relating to the future of India-Bangladesh relations.

Amid a stormy note, the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are all set for another crucial legislative day on Thursday, with the Lok Sabha scheduled to take up the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, while the Rajya Sabha is likely to consider the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, along with the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026.