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The debate on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday was not limited to discussions on examination reforms and paper leak cases. It also witnessed an unusual use of Gen Z internet slang, as MPs from both the treasury benches and the opposition used popular social media expressions to strengthen their political arguments.

Words and phrases such as “clock it,” “MIA,” “FOMO,” and “delulu” were repeatedly heard during the discussion, giving the parliamentary debate an unexpected digital-age flavour while lawmakers sparred over the proposed legislation.

Bansuri Swaraj says PM Modi ‘clocked it’

Speaking in support of the amendment Bill, BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj used the phrase “clock it,” a Gen Z expression that means recognising or correctly identifying something.

“Borrowing Gen Z’s language, I would have to say that Modiji clocked it at providing this legislative solution.”

Calling the amendment a significant step, Swaraj said it reflected the government’s commitment to safeguarding the credibility of public examinations.

“I am standing in support of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026. This is a transformative amendment. Its necessity is not only evident, but it is also the demand of the present time. Bringing this amendment is proof of the sensitivity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his committed government.”

She further added, “Speaker Sir, when a competitive examination is compromised, its impact is not limited to the candidate whose future is put at stake.”

Shrikant Shinde uses ‘MIA’, ‘FOMO’ and ‘delulu’ to criticise opposition

Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Lata Eknath Shinde also leaned on Gen Z terminology while attacking the opposition over its protests related to the NEET paper leak issue.

Summing up the opposition’s approach, he said, “I’d like to sum up the opposition’s protest in Gen Z language. They were MIA (missing in action) for the first 37 days and did not go to Jantar Mantar. Then came FOMO (fear of missing out), so they held a protest outside the Prime Minister’s residence. Finally, they became ‘delulu’ (delusional), believing the protesting students would join them, but no one did.”

His remarks stood out as they blended internet culture with political criticism inside Parliament.

Priyanka Gandhi targets PM Modi’s public outreach

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also invoked Gen Z while criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s communication strategy.

“If you want to win over the Gen Z, then making videos with different camera angles will not help. The prime minister needs to change the angle of his heart, not the angle of cameras,” she said.

She also asked the government to accept responsibility for the examination controversy.

“Injustice has been done with youths under your government, accept the truth. Prime Minister Narendra Modi must take responsibility,” she added.

Internet language finds space in Parliament

Although the discussion remained centred on examination reforms and measures to curb unfair practices, the repeated use of Gen Z expressions by MPs across party lines became one of the most talked-about aspects of the debate. The exchange highlighted how internet slang, once limited to social media conversations, has increasingly entered mainstream political discourse in Parliament.

FAQs:

Why were Gen Z slang terms like ‘Clock It’ and ‘Delulu’ used in the Lok Sabha?

MPs used popular Gen Z expressions to make political arguments more relatable during the debate on the Public Examinations Amendment Bill, 2026.

What do ‘Clock It’, ‘FOMO’, ‘MIA’ and ‘Delulu’ mean?

‘Clock It’ means to recognise something, ‘FOMO’ is fear of missing out, ‘MIA’ means missing in action, and ‘Delulu’ is slang for being delusional.