Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday, 28 July said the Opposition is 'very likely' to participate in the Lok Sabha debate on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, calling it essential for Parliament to address the concerns of students and restore normal legislative functioning. His remarks came after Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla announced the House would take up the bill for discussion at 2 pm the same day.

What Tharoor Said

Speaking to reporters, Tharoor described the debate as critical and welcomed the Opposition's likely participation. 'I think it's a very important debate and I think now the Opposition seems very likely to participate in this debate, which I'm very encouraged by because I think we need to get Parliament back on track. The voices of the children of India must be heard in Parliament, and many of us feel a responsibility to raise some of these issues,' he said.

Tharoor signalled that the Opposition would scrutinise whether the proposed legislation sufficiently tackles examination paper leaks. 'Is the bill introduced by the government sufficient? Will merely setting up fast-track courts or changing one or two provisions truly improve the future of our children? These are questions that need to be asked,' he added.

Demand for Systemic Reform

Tharoor argued that addressing examination irregularities required far more than individual accountability measures. He called for a comprehensive overhaul of the examination system, stating that 'only one minister's resignation is not enough — the entire system needs to be transformed.' He maintained that structural changes were the only credible path to protecting students' interests.

Tharoor on Pradhan's Reception at Parliament

Tharoor also commented on the reception accorded to former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan at Parliament on Monday, following his resignation. Pradhan had stepped down citing moral responsibility for failures in the examination system. Tharoor called the celebratory welcome 'a very disturbing development.'

'When a minister resigns taking moral responsibility for a failure, you don't greet him as a hero,' he said. He further argued that applauding the resignation reflected a disconnect from the sentiments of students and middle-class families affected by alleged examination irregularities. 'These are all people who did the right thing, who studied, prepared for exams, and were betrayed by the system. You don't applaud that. If you're applauding it and celebrating it, then you're out of touch with the people; you will not get their support,' Tharoor said.

Background and Context

The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 comes in the wake of widespread controversy over alleged paper leaks and irregularities in national-level competitive examinations, which triggered protests by students and families across the country. The original Public Examinations Act had introduced criminal provisions for exam fraud, but critics argue the framework needs deeper structural reinforcement. This debate marks one of the more significant legislative moments in the current session, with the Opposition's participation potentially signalling a partial thaw after days of disruption in the House.

What Happens Next

With the Opposition indicating participation, the Lok Sabha debate on the amendment bill is expected to be substantive. Whether the government responds to demands for broader systemic reform — beyond fast-track courts and incremental provisions — will determine whether the legislation satisfies students and civil society groups who have been pressing for accountability since the examination controversies erupted.