India’s Parliament has seen repeated disruptions in the ongoing Monsoon Session, with both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha frequently adjourned amid opposition protests. The stoppages have been framed as a major drain on public money, with estimates putting the cost of running both Houses at about Rs 2.5 lakh per minute.
The session began on July 20 and is scheduled to run for three weeks until August 13. From the first day, the alleged NEET question paper leak dominated proceedings, triggering protests inside Parliament and demonstrations outside, including at Jantar Mantar.
Opposition parties demanded the removal of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and insisted they would not allow debates until action was taken. The government said it was ready for a discussion on the issue, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured that a stringent law would be brought in to prevent exam malpractices and paper leaks.
Despite repeated appeals by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan to allow constructive debate, the Houses remained stalled for five consecutive days up to the day before yesterday. The report notes that frequent adjournments have also affected Question Hour and Zero Hour, limiting MPs’ ability to raise constituency issues and urgent public matters.
The article also cites longer-term figures, claiming that disruptions between 2014 and 2024 led to 55 days of lost sittings and an estimated Rs 3,300 crore in wasted taxpayer money. With Dharmendra Pradhan having resigned, the focus now shifts to whether both Houses will function more smoothly from tomorrow.
