NDA ally says student protests over paper leaks were ‘wake-up call’, backs tougher anti-cheating law

An ally of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Wednesday said the nationwide student protests over alleged paper leaks and examination irregularities should be seen as a “wake-up call” rather than a negative development, urging lawmakers to use the unrest to strengthen India’s public examination system.

Participating in the Lok Sabha debate on the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) MP Indra Hang Subba backed the proposed legislation, saying the demonstrations reflected the genuine frustration of lakhs of students.

“The way our youth expressed their dissatisfaction over the last couple of months should not be viewed negatively. It is a wake-up call for the system, parliamentarians and governments of every party that our examination system must be made more robust,” Subba said.

The amendment bill was introduced after nationwide protests over the alleged NEET-UG paper leak and demands for tougher action against examination fraud.

Subba said paper leaks had evolved from isolated incidents into organised criminal networks driven by money, benefiting affluent candidates while depriving hardworking students from economically weaker backgrounds of fair opportunities.

“When unfair means allow one candidate to succeed while a deserving student is left behind, the system fails and the future of that student is compromised,” he said, while also calling for time-bound investigations to ensure justice is not delayed.

Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) MP Hanuman Beniwal also supported stricter action against paper leaks but argued that the proposed law should contain stronger punitive provisions. He expressed disappointment at being given only three minutes to speak, saying those who stood with protesting students deserved more time in the House.

“We did not go to Jantar Mantar merely to make reels. We fought this battle from the streets to Parliament,” Beniwal said, adding that sustained student protests had compelled the government to bring the legislation.

Paying tribute to students who died by suicide amid examination controversies, Beniwal said paper leaks had occurred under governments of different political parties and urged a non-partisan approach to addressing the issue.

He proposed life imprisonment for organised paper leak syndicates involved in multiple examinations, court-monitored investigations with mandatory digital video recording, lifetime debarment of convicted offenders from public examinations and government jobs, and legal provisions allowing courts to order narco-analysis and polygraph tests during investigations.

“Passing a law alone is not enough. Unless swift and stringent action is taken against the masterminds of paper leaks, corrupt officials and those providing political protection, justice will remain out of reach for the country’s youth,” Beniwal said.