The Lok Sabha is set for an extensive debate on Monday, 27 July 2026, as the Centre tables the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 — a legislation designed to tighten the legal framework against paper leaks and examination fraud. Young NDA MPs, including Bansuri Swaraj of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shrikant Shinde of Shiv Sena, are among those expected to take the floor.

Key Speakers Expected in the Debate

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh will formally introduce the Bill, which amends the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024. A government notification for its introduction has already been issued. The debate is expected to run between eight and ten hours, signalling the ruling alliance's intent to build broad consensus on examination reforms.

From the NDA, the expected speakers include Bansuri Swaraj and Tejasvi Surya (BJP), Rajiv Ranjan Singh 'Lalan' (JD-U), Shrikant Shinde (Shiv Sena), Sunil Tatkare (NCP), Anupriya Patel (Apna Dal (Soneylal)), and Arun Bharti (LJP-Ram Vilas). From the newly formed NCPI, Sayoni Ghosh and Mitali Bag are expected to speak, as is Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP).

What the Amendment Bill Proposes

The proposed legislation introduces significantly stricter penalties for examination malpractice. Key provisions include imprisonment of up to 10 years, fines of up to ₹10 crore, confiscation of assets of those convicted, and a mandate for verdicts to be delivered within three months through fast-track courts. The Union Cabinet approved the Bill and related provisions on Friday, with fast-track courts specifically mandated to conclude trials swiftly.

The Nandan Nilekani Task Force

The Bill's introduction follows a flurry of government action on examination integrity. On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the constitution of a task force on exam reforms to be headed by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani, widely credited as the architect of the Aadhaar identity platform. Modi stated that the task force's report would inform steps to safeguard the credibility of upcoming public examinations.

In a video statement, Prime Minister Modi said, 'The Government of India is continuously taking various measures for the future of students. Those who tampered with the students' future are languishing in jail. We have already established fast-track courts. We are also moving towards enacting new legislation in Parliament that incorporates stringent legal provisions.'

Political Context and Background

The legislative push comes shortly after a wave of student protests over paper leaks subsided, following the resignation of former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, who assumed charge of the Education Ministry on Sunday, is expected to be present during Question Hour, where education-sector questions are scheduled. This is the government's most direct legislative response to the paper leak crisis that shook public confidence in competitive examinations. With Nilekani's appointment and a Bill mandating fast-track verdicts, the Centre is signalling both structural and punitive reform simultaneously.