The political deadlock that had continued for the past week during Parliament's Monsoon Session has ended, paving the way for the Lok Sabha to hold a detailed discussion on Tuesday on the amendment bill related to examination reforms and measures to prevent question paper leaks.
According to the agreement reached between the government and the Opposition, six hours have been allocated for the debate on the bill. A vote is expected after the discussion concludes.
The deadlock ended following an initiative by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, who facilitated discussions between the government and Opposition parties. The Speaker indicated that the duration of the debate could be extended if required.
On Monday, Union Minister Jitendra Singh introduced the examination reforms amendment bill in the Lok Sabha amid protests and sloganeering by Opposition members. During the one-hour period allotted for the introduction of the bill, Opposition MPs moved 92 amendments. However, no consensus was reached at that stage on holding a discussion.
After disruptions continued throughout the day, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the government could not keep the bill pending indefinitely and, if necessary, could have it passed without an extended debate. Thereafter, Speaker Om Birla held consultations with leaders of various political parties and played a key role in securing agreement for the discussion.
Alongside the examination reforms bill, student protests and police action have also become a focus of political debate in Parliament. Congress MP Manish Tewari has submitted an adjournment motion notice in the Lok Sabha seeking a discussion on the student march to Parliament held on 20 July 2026.
Tewari alleged that the Rapid Action Force (RAF) used pellet guns against unarmed student protesters during the march. According to him, more than 80 people were injured in the incident. The Opposition is seeking a detailed response and accountability from the government on the matter. The official details regarding the allegations and the incident are expected to become clearer during the parliamentary discussion.
The government has stated that it is implementing comprehensive reforms to make the examination system more secure, transparent and reliable. It said technological and administrative measures are being developed to prevent question paper leaks and alleged irregularities in examination processes.
The government has also constituted a task force under the leadership of digital technology expert Nandan Nilekani to recommend measures for strengthening examination security, digital monitoring and examination administration.
A nationwide movement demanding examination reforms continued for 36 days. Following the protests, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned from his post. The government subsequently announced several corrective measures aimed at addressing students' concerns and restoring confidence in the examination system.
Following tensions between student protesters and police on 20 July, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed young people through an Instagram video. Addressing students as "friends", the Prime Minister said the government was aware of their concerns and was working with sensitivity to make the examination system fair and secure.
The government has stated that the proposed legislation and the new reform process are intended to curb examination-related irregularities and strengthen the confidence of millions of students.
Both the government and the Opposition have prepared extensively for Tuesday's debate in the Lok Sabha. On behalf of the ruling NDA, Bansuri Swaraj and Sayoni Ghosh are among the principal speakers expected to present the government's position on the examination reforms programme and respond to the Opposition's allegations.
On the Opposition side, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi is expected to lead the debate against the government. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra are also expected to participate in the discussion.
