Parliament prepares key exam Bill as part of education reforms

Education reforms have moved to the forefront of the national agenda amid growing demands for accountability and stronger public institutions.

The Union government is preparing to introduce the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, in the Lok Sabha on Monday.

The move follows major political developments after Prahlad Joshi assumed charge as the new Union Education Minister.

He replaced Dharmendra Pradhan, who resigned after nationwide protests over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG 2026 examination.

Joshi thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for entrusting him with the responsibility. He described the role as both an honour and a duty.

Besides leading the Education Ministry, he continues to handle the Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, and New and Renewable Energy portfolios. Earlier, he also served as the Coal, Mines, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister.

Meanwhile, the proposed amendment aims to strengthen the public examination system. It introduces fast-track courts, stricter penalties, and tighter enforcement measures.

Furthermore, it seeks to establish dedicated judicial mechanisms and ensure time-bound investigations and trials. Union Minister of State Jitendra Singh will move the Bill for introduction in Parliament.

The legislation comes after nearly two months of protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and several student groups.

They demanded accountability following the alleged paper leak in NEET-UG 2026. Consequently, pressure on the government intensified, ultimately leading to Pradhan’s resignation.

Pradhan said he stepped down in the larger interest of students. He added that he wanted to prevent young people from becoming trapped in confusion.

Moreover, he reaffirmed his long-standing commitment to education reforms and student welfare.

His resignation followed the July 20 ‘Chalo Sansad’ march, where police action against protesters triggered sharp criticism from the opposition. However, police maintained that the demonstration had turned violent.

Besides the examination Bill, Parliament is expected to witness heated debates over several other legislative proposals.

These include amendments related to the Supreme Court’s strength, national honour, income tax, MSMEs, birth and death registration, and foreign contribution regulations.

The Monsoon Session, which began on July 20, will continue until August 13. Therefore, education reforms and legislative priorities are set to dominate parliamentary proceedings in the coming weeks.

Image from Pxhere (Free for commercial use / CC0 Public Domain)

Image published on February 12, 2017

Image Reference: https://pxhere.com/en/photo/685232