Indian Legislatures Face Disruptions Over NEET Paper Leak Scandal

Opposition parties in India launched coordinated protests across state and national legislatures between July 23 and July 24, 2026, centered on the NEET paper leak and related exam irregularities. In the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge led demands for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The disruptions led Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan to adjourn the House multiple times on July 24, preventing the transaction of any substantive business since the start of the Monday session.

Simultaneously, the Madhya Pradesh Assembly's monsoon session faced disruptions on July 23. Leader of the Opposition Umang Singhar led protests involving black armbands, citing the NEET scandal and lack of compensation for families affected by the Ken-Betwa river linking project. A heated exchange occurred between Singhar and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya over allegations regarding the government's treatment of youth.

Despite the unrest in Madhya Pradesh, the state government successfully passed several pieces of legislation, including the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita Amendment Bill and the Medical Science University Amendment Bill. Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla stated the latter aims to expand medical faculty and colleges in Jabalpur, Sagar, Rewa, and Shahdol.