New Delhi, 28 July (H.S.): Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday participated in the Lok Sabha discussion on the bill aimed at strengthening laws against paper leaks and examination-related malpractices. He urged the government to listen to the concerns of the country’s youth, warning that the demographic dividend could become a challenge if their issues are ignored.

During the discussion on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, Akhilesh Yadav raised issues related to paper leaks in Uttar Pradesh, alleged theft of donations at the Ram temple, and the closure of primary schools in the state. He claimed that more than 20 examination papers had been leaked in Uttar Pradesh.

Speaking about the proposed legal amendments, Yadav said the government was bringing changes to a law that it had introduced itself. He described the move as an attempt to mislead people and questioned why paper leaks continued if the existing law was effective. He also alleged that the government had outsourced the functioning of the National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts major examinations.

Yadav said the government itself describes the country’s youth as its demographic dividend, but warned that neglecting their concerns could turn this advantage into a crisis.

During the debate, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju asked Akhilesh Yadav whether those making laws against student protests were better or those who imposed an Emergency during student movements. Responding to the remark, Yadav took a jibe and said that a change of government had taken place after the Emergency.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar