Parliament Monsoon Session 2026 Live: Rajya Sabha adjourned after Vande Mataram Bill tabled amid paper leak uproar

The Upper House was also adjourned immediately after the introduction of the Vande Mataram Bill. The House will reconvene at 11 am on Monday.

Opposition MPs opposed the introduction of the Vande Mataram Bill, calling it an attempt to manufacture patriotism and divert attention from the controversy over the NEET paper leak and their demand for Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation.

Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai tabled the Vande Mataram Bill, formally titled the National Honour (Amendment) Bill, in the Rajya Sabha.

Rajya Sabha resumed at 2 pm after being adjourned earlier amid Opposition protests.

The government is likely to introduce the Vande Mataram Bill in the Rajya Sabha at 2 pm on Friday. Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai will table the legislation, which seeks to amend the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971. The proposed amendment aims to accord the singing of Vande Mataram the same legal protection currently granted to the National Anthem.

Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav accused the Centre of trying to suppress students' concerns over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, saying the government wanted the issue "to be buried".

Demanding structural reforms, she called for the removal of the National Testing Agency (NTA), citing multiple complaints against the exam-conducting body. Yadav also said Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan should have resigned on his own, asserting that he must step down on moral grounds.

Congress MP Deepender Hooda on Friday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement of setting up fast-track courts to deal with paper leak cases, saying it did not address the demands being raised by students or the Opposition. Questioning the move, Hooda asked whether any child or political party had demanded fast-track courts, and alleged that the Prime Minister was ignoring the "real demands".

"Dd any child raise the issue of a fast-track court? Did any party raise it? The Prime Minister is talking about things for which there is no demand in the country, but PM Modi is not taking cognisance of the real demands for which the entire opposition is fighting... Our demand is that Dharmendra Pradhan should resign and action should be taken against those responsible for the police brutality," he asked.

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on Friday accused the government of suppressing the voices of students in Parliament amid the ongoing deadlock over the NEET paper leak issue.

In a post on X, Gogoi alleged that while Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju was allowed to present Prime Minister Narendra Modi's views in the House, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi was not permitted to speak on the demands of students.

The Union Cabinet meeting began after the conclusion of the meetings of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) and the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA). The Cabinet is to take key decisions on paper leaks.

Reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's video message on the paper leak issue, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said the resignation of the Union Education Minister is necessary. He asserted that an administrative reshuffle alone would not resolve the crisis and took a swipe at the Prime Minister, saying that if Modi was unaware of the reasons behind the protests across the country, he should speak to Rahul Gandhi.

Rahul Gandhi said the Opposition would not participate in any discussion in Parliament until Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan is removed from office, laying down three conditions linked to the ongoing student protests.

Addressing reporters outside Parliament, Gandhi said the students had three demands: the removal of what he called the "corrupt" Education Minister, action against those who allegedly attacked and assaulted protesting students, and an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"...the students have three demands: 1) The corrupt Education Minister has to go, 2) Action against those who attacked students and beat them up, 3) PM should apologise to the students. These are the 3 conditions. We are not going to have any conversation, any discussion before Mr Pradhan is sacked. That's it," Gandhi said.

Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned until 11 am tomorrow, shortly after the House reconvened at 12 pm. Opposition MPs chanted "Resign Education Minister" as proceedings continued, triggering massive uproar that led to the adjournment.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju urged the Opposition to participate in a discussion on the NEET issue, saying avoiding a debate would send the wrong message to the country.

Addressing the Lok Sabha amid continued disruptions, Rijiju said, "If we make excuses for not holding discussion on NEET, it will send the wrong message to the country."

Presiding officer Jagdambika Pal appealed to Opposition MPs to end their protest and allow the House to function, saying the government was ready for a discussion on the issue.

He urged the Opposition to take up its concerns with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and help restore order in the House.

Lok Sabha members chanted "Education Minister resign" and "Istifa, Istifa" as the uproar continued.

Proceedings in the Lok Sabha continued to be disrupted as Opposition MPs raised slogans and trooped into the Well of the House after the House reassembled, leading to fresh chaos.

Opposition MPs chanted "Istifa, Istifa" as Lok Sabha proceedings continued amid sloganeering.

Rajya Sabha adjourned to meet again at 2 pm over opposition uproar.

Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha witnessed chaos again as the Houses resumed proceedings at 12 pm.

Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh met Home Minister Amit Shah ahead of the Centre's scheduled talks with representatives of the CJP.

Singh and Nadda will lead the government's delegation for the talks with CJP representatives, scheduled to begin at 12.30 pm at the Constitution Club in New Delhi.

The Centre is set to introduce the Vande Mataram Bill in the Rajya Sabha at 2 pm on Friday, seeking to amend the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, India Today TV's Himanshu Mishra reports.

Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai will introduce the Bill in the Upper House.

The proposed amendment seeks to extend the same legal protection to the singing of "Vande Mataram" as is currently available to the National Anthem, "Jana Gana Mana", under the 1971 Act. If passed, the legislation would bring insults to or obstruction of the singing of Vande Mataram under the ambit of legal protection similar to that accorded to the National Anthem.

Parliamentary discussions in the Rajya Sabha are governed by specific rules. Two of the most debated provisions are Rule 167 and Rule 267, with the government and the Opposition often differing over which rule should be used for discussing a particular issue. India Today's Sanjay Sharma explains the provisions.

According to parliamentary procedure expert and advocate RK Sharma, Rule 167 allows a discussion on a matter of public importance only after a formal motion is moved with the prior approval of the Chairman. A discussion cannot take place directly without such a motion.

Once the discussion under Rule 167 concludes and the concerned minister replies, the motion, and any amendments to it, is put to a vote in the House.

In contrast, Rule 267 empowers an MP to seek the suspension of the day's listed business, with the Chairman's permission, to enable an immediate discussion on an issue of urgent national importance.

To invoke Rule 267, a member must submit a written notice, and the decision to admit or reject it rests entirely with the Chairman's discretion. As clarified by the Chair, the rule is intended only to suspend the rules relating to the business listed for that day so that an urgent matter can be taken up.

The key distinction is that Rule 167 provides for a structured debate through a formal motion that culminates in voting, while Rule 267 is a procedural tool to set aside scheduled business for an urgent discussion and does not, by itself, provide for a vote on the issue.

Under India's parliamentary system, the government is collectively accountable to Parliament. Therefore, whenever a serious issue is taken up under an admitted rule, the concerned minister is expected to respond as part of parliamentary accountability, though the procedures and outcomes differ depending on the rule invoked.

Congress sources said the party will participate in the parliamentary debate if the government introduces any Bill related to the ongoing student protests or the NEET paper leak issue, saying it concerns the demands raised by students.

However, the party is expected to argue that despite the Centre enacting a law on examination malpractices in 2024, little has changed on the ground.

During the discussion, Congress is likely to question the government over the implementation and effectiveness of the existing legislation while seeking accountability over the recurring paper leak incidents.

Chaos erupted in the Rajya Sabha as Opposition MPs sought to raise issues including the ongoing student protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, alleged police action against protesters, and the NEET row.

As a result the proceedings of the House were adjourned till noon.

The proceedings have been adjourned in the Rajya Sabha till 12 pm.

The parliamentary proceedings are underway in the Rajya Sabha.

The proceedings have been adjourned in the Lok Sabha till 12 pm amid sloganeering by the Opposition MPs.

The Parliamentary proceedings have begun in both Houses.

The Union Cabinet meeting will be held today in Parliament at 1 pm today.

(Inputs from ANI)

The Opposition MPs once again protested outside Parliament, asking for the removal of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET row.

The MPs held a 'dismiss Pradhan' banner this time.

Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Friday accused the Modi government of degrading India's education system and acting with "utter impunity, supreme self-delusion, and abject insensitivity" amid the ongoing controversy over examination paper leaks. In a newspaper article, she said students had "called the Modi regime's bluff" and asserted that it was the Congress' "moral, political, and constitutional duty" to stand with them and safeguard their future.

The Opposition is set to stage a fresh protest at Makar Dwar of Parliament at 10.30 am, demanding accountability over the NEET paper leak.

Trinamool Congress parliamentary leader in the Rajya Sabha Derek O'Brien on Friday escalated the Opposition's attack over the NEET paper leak controversy, saying the issue had gone beyond the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. "It's now way beyond just dropping a minister. Won't do. The Prime Minister and Home Minister must be held accountable," O'Brien said in a post on X, demanding accountability at the highest levels of the government.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's late-night video message on paper leaks came only after two months of sustained public anger, alleging that the Centre had consistently denied the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak and prioritised political considerations over students' interests.

Claiming that students had lost faith in the government over its handling of exam irregularities and the crackdown on protesters, Ramesh said any genuine resolution must begin with three steps: the dismissal of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, action against those responsible for allegedly assaulting student protesters, and a public apology from the Prime Minister.

Hello and welcome to India Today's live coverage of the fifth day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, where both Houses are set for another stormy day over the NEET paper leak row and protests in Delhi.