Archive · 31 Jul 2026
Supreme Court Judges Bill and Anti‑Paper Leak Law Pass in Parliament
The Indian Parliament is talking about two new laws.
One law will let the Supreme Court have more judges, going from 34 to 38.
The other law makes it harder for people to cheat on exams by leaking test papers.
It says that if someone is caught, they could go to jail for up to 10 years and pay a big fine.
The law also says courts will finish cases quickly, in about three months.
Some people in Parliament were upset and said the police were too harsh, but the government said the new rules are needed to protect students.
Lok Sabha will debate the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026 to raise judges from 34 to 38.
The Bill is moved by Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal; Cabinet approved it in May.
The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, passed in both houses, imposes jail terms up to 10 years and fines up to Rs 50 lakh for paper leaks.
The anti‑paper‑leak law creates special fast‑track courts and requires trials to finish within three months.
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi accused the government of police brutality during a July 20 student protest, and a word from his speech was later removed from House records.
- Who
- Indian Parliament, Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi
- What
- Consideration and passage of the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026 and the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026
- When
- Monsoon Session 2026, Day 9 and Day 10
- Where
- New Delhi, India
- Why
- To increase the Supreme Court’s sanctioned judges and to curb exam paper leaks
- Bill
- Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026
- Proposed Judges
- 38 (up from 34)
- Current Judges
- 34 (33 excluding CJI)
- Anti‑Paper Leak Bill
- Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026
- Penalties for Paper Leaks
- 5–10 years jail, up to Rs 50 lakh fine; 7 years jail, up to Rs 10 crore for organized rackets
- Fast‑Track Courts
- Sessions Courts designated as special fast‑track courts
- Trial Completion
- Within 3 months of charge sheet filing
