Opposition MPs stage a protest in Lok Sabha during the ongoing Monsoon session of Parliament, in New Delhi, Friday, July 31. (Sansad TV via PTI Photo)
LIVE: Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill passed in LS; both Houses adjourned
Parliament witnessed disruptions as Opposition MPs raised the alleged police crackdown on student protesters and the alleged embezzlement of Ram Mandir donations
Parliament proceedings were disrupted on Friday (July 31) as the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha were adjourned till 11 am on Monday amid noisy Opposition protests over the alleged police crackdown on students protesting against the NEET paper leak and the alleged Ayodhya Ram Mandir donation embezzlement row.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said the Opposition members disrupted the House proceedings in what he termed as a pre-planned manner. "Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is standing to ask a question, but Opposition members are not allowing Question Hour to proceed," he said.
Also read | Anti-paper leak bill proposes tougher punishment, omits deeper flaws in supply chain
In an apparent reference to suspended TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee, he said some members were roaming in the Parliament House complex in different getups. Birla said such actions lower the dignity of the house. He then adjourned the proceedings till noon.
Banerjee has been protesting against his suspension over use of undignified language against women MPs. He has been hanging photographs of 20 rebel TMC MPs who have joined a lesser-known Nationalist Citizens Party of India.
Separately, Samajwadi Party MPs have been protesting the alleged theft of donations at Ram Temple in Ayodhya. They have been carrying donation boxes and placards at the entrance of the Parliament House.
Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026, passed in LS
On Friday, the Lok Sabha passed the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026, amid Opposition protests over the police crackdown on students during the July 20 Parliament march, with the legislation being cleared without a debate.
The bill was taken up for consideration and passage after the House reassembled at noon with BJP MP Dilip Saikia in the Chair. It was passed by voice vote amid sloganeering by Opposition members, several of whom trooped into the Well demanding the presence of Home Minister Amit Shah in the House.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju expressed displeasure over the Opposition's refusal to participate in the debate, saying the government wanted a discussion on the "important Bill".
"It is unfortunate. Please do not repeat this in the future. People who sent you to Parliament will seek answers from you," Rijiju said, urging Opposition members to participate in debates on future legislation instead of creating disruptions.
CJP questions govt approach
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said there would be “no mercy” for the paper leak mafia and stressed the need for comprehensive reforms to the education system after Parliament passed a law introducing stricter punishments for exam fraud.
The Prime Minister’s remarks, made in a video message on Instagram, drew a sharp response from Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke, whose movement spearheaded the nationwide protests that culminated in the legislation. Responding to Modi's post, Dipke took a swipe at him, commenting, “Your skin is brighter than the country's future.”
Also read | How India's new anti-paper leak law can improve its exam structure
Dipke's remark comes amid a continuing confrontation between the CJP and the Centre over recurring examination paper leaks. The party has led weeks of protests, demanding sweeping reforms to the examination system, greater accountability and action against those responsible for repeated irregularities.
Even before Parliament passed the amendment bill, the CJP had criticised the proposed changes, arguing that they were aimed more at punishing those involved after a paper leak than preventing such incidents in the first place.
(With agency inputs)
Scroll below for Live updates
Live Updates
- 31 July 2026 11:12 AM IST
Lok Sabha adjourned till 12 noon amid Opposition uproar over NEET protests
Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned until 12 pm on Friday, just minutes after the House convened, following noisy protests by Opposition members. They raised objections over the reported use of pellet guns and AK-47 rifles against demonstrators protesting the NEET examination, triggering disruptions that forced the Chair to suspend the sitting.
- 31 July 2026 10:54 AM IST
Rahul Gandhi, Opposition MPs protest over alleged Ram Mandir donation embezzlement
Opposition MPs, including Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, staged a protest in Parliament during the Monsoon Session over the alleged embezzlement of donations meant for the Ayodhya Ram Mandir.
- 31 July 2026 10:51 AM IST
AAP says will shield CJP protesters against 'right wing goons'
AAP Delhi chief Saurabh Bharadwaj on Friday extended protection against "right wing goons" to students who participated in the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP)-led protest at Jantar Mantar.
In a post on X addressed to "Delhi GenZ", Bharadwaj said, "If any student (who peacefully participated at Jantar Mantar protest) is facing threats from Right Wing goons in Delhi, don't be scared, invite them home and let us know. We will take care." AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal shared Bharadwaj's "major announcement", saying, "We will all come together to set these thugs straight." The remarks came a day after the Delhi government's Home Department issued an order stating that no further legal adverse action would be taken against individuals who participated in the protest.
The order said the review and release of those already arrested or detained would be undertaken expeditiously. The order, all the same, asserted action against individuals with a criminal background who took part in the protests.
- 31 July 2026 10:27 AM IST
Births and deaths, MSME Bills before Parliament today
Both Houses of Parliament will take up key legislative business on Friday as the Monsoon Session continues, with several Bills listed for consideration and passage.
In the Lok Sabha, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will move the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which proposes changes to the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969. The House will also consider the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, to be moved by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal.
Members will also table official papers and reports of the Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj. The Lok Sabha is scheduled to consider extending the time for a Joint Committee to submit its report on the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2025, along with the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
In the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi will move the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026, for passage.
The day's agenda follows two Bills cleared on Thursday. The Rajya Sabha passed the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, after Opposition members walked out during voting. The Lok Sabha also approved the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, by voice vote.
- 31 July 2026 10:23 AM IST
Kharge alleges Centre reneged on assurances to students
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday accused the Centre of reneging on its assurance not to take action against students who had withdrawn their protest.
In a post on X, he alleged that the government was filing FIRs, taking students into custody, blocking their social media accounts and allowing young women to be doxxed, while demanding the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the issue.
- 31 July 2026 10:18 AM IST
BJP's Shashank Mani Tripathi accuses Rahul Gandhi of politicising Gen-Z
BJP MP Shashank Mani Tripathi on Friday accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of turning Gen-Z into a political issue, saying the younger generation should be encouraged to contribute to nation-building instead of being drawn into partisan politics.
"As for Rahul Gandhi, he is the one politicising the issue. We should be harnessing the immense energy of Gen-Z to move forward in nation-building," Tripathi said.
The BJP MP also claimed that the Congress leader's political strategy had failed to win public backing. "Rahul Gandhi’s brand of politics is failing at the ballot box; he is facing defeats everywhere," he said, adding that the Bharatiya Janata Party had secured victories in several elections over the past six months and enjoyed public support, reported ANI.
Tripathi said Rahul Gandhi was attempting to rely on young people because he lacked an electoral mandate. "Lacking such a mandate himself, Rahul Gandhi is using Gen-Z as a support for his politics while levelling accusations against others," he said.
He also took aim at Rahul Gandhi's conduct in Parliament, saying, "He needs to understand that true politics requires engaging with the public and earning their mandate. In the absence of that support, he disrupts the House and walks out."
- 31 July 2026 10:16 AM IST
Congress MP K Suresh urges PM Modi to attend Parliament debates
Congress MP K Suresh on Friday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not attending the Lok Sabha during the discussion on the Examination Amendment Bill, saying the Prime Minister should participate in parliamentary debates instead of communicating through videos.
Suresh said, "PM did not come to the House. During the discussion on the Examination Amendment Bill. The Prime Minister should come to the House and participate in the debate. He should also express his views."
The Congress leader said Parliament remained the country's foremost democratic forum and questioned the Prime Minister's absence from the proceedings.
"Whatever he wants to tell the people is being conveyed through videos. Parliament is the most important forum for us, a democratic forum. But he is bypassing Parliament," Suresh said.
He added that addressing the public through videos could not replace parliamentary participation. "Whatever he wants to say to the people through videos, this is not good for democracy. He must respect Parliament. He should come to Parliament, address Parliament, and speak in Parliament," Suresh said.
- 31 July 2026 10:11 AM IST
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey seeks action against Rahul Gandhi over privilege motion
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Friday criticised Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of repeatedly making unfounded remarks and urging the Lok Sabha Speaker to act on pending privilege motions against the Congress leader.
Dubey said Rahul Gandhi had "a history of making baseless and nonsensical statements, a habit he has exhibited for a long time." He linked the Congress leader's conduct to the party's prolonged spell in the opposition.
According to the BJP MP, "his current mindset stems from the fact that the Congress party has been out of power for twelve years. Without power, Congress members seem to lose their senses," reported ANI.
Referring to the latest privilege motion, Dubey claimed, "This privilege motion is the culmination of that mindset." He also appealed to the Speaker to intervene, saying, "I urge the Lok Sabha Speaker to take action."
Dubey further stated that several privilege motions against Rahul Gandhi were still awaiting a decision. "At least fifteen privilege motions have been pending since Rahul Gandhi became the Leader of the Opposition," he said, adding, "I humbly request the Speaker to exercise his authority and act on these matters."
- 31 July 2026 9:43 AM IST
Rahul Gandhi tells Modi, Shah: You cannot threaten Gen Z into silence
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the government's handling of student protesters. In a post on X, Rahul said the Centre could not "threaten Gen Z into silence," alleging that authorities had first "broken their bones" and were now filing FIRs against them and taking down their social media accounts. "You are India's past. Be careful about how you treat India's future," he said.
- 31 July 2026 9:16 AM IST
CPI(ML) MP, AISA leader meet Junaid, condemn alleged police harassment
CPI(ML) MP Raja Ram Singh and AISA president Neha on Thursday met Mohammad Junaid, a CJP volunteer and prominent face at the Jantar Mantar protest site, and condemned what they described as "continued harassment" of him and his family by Delhi and Uttar Pradesh police.
In a statement, the CPI(ML) and the All India Students' Association (AISA) said Singh and Neha expressed their "deepest gratitude and unwavering solidarity" with Junaid for supporting the protest by providing free food, drinking water and other essential supplies to participants.
The two leaders alleged that Junaid and his family had since been subjected to "relentless harassment" by the Delhi and Uttar Pradesh police and targeted through a "vicious hate campaign" because of his support for the movement.
They condemned the alleged harassment and said attempts to intimidate those extending solidarity to democratic movements would not succeed.
Junaid visited Singh's Delhi residence where the two leaders met him.
The statement said the CPI(ML), AISA and the student community stood "shoulder to shoulder" with Junaid and his family.
