Anti-paper leak law change moots stiffer penalty, wider coverage
New Delhi: Amid raging student protests over alleged examination irregularities, the government is set to strengthen its anti-paper leak law. Amendments to the Public Examinations
New Delhi: Amid raging student protests over alleged examination irregularities, the government is set to strengthen its anti-paper leak law. Amendments to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, to be introduced in parliament on Monday, will propose hefty fines and bring state-level public examinations within its ambit, a senior government functionary said. The proposed amendments, approved by the Union cabinet on Friday, come amid renewed concerns over examination integrity following the controversy surrounding the Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG) paper leak and mounting demands for stronger safeguards against organized examination fraud. According to the government functionary, the amendment Bill is expected to propose a fine of up to ₹10 crore for offences related to paper leaks and other organized examination malpractices, as against the existing maximum penalty of ₹1 crore for organized crimes under the law. The proposed reforms would also expand the scope of the law to cover all public examinations, including state-level. Quick answers to key questions • 5 QUESTIONS 1 What are the proposed penalties under the amended anti-paper leak law in India? ⌵ The proposed amendments to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, suggest hefty fines of up to ₹10 crore for offences related to paper leaks, significantly increasing the current maximum penalty of ₹1 crore. 2 Why is the government strengthening the anti-paper leak law? ⌵ The government aims to address renewed concerns over examination integrity following controversies such as the NEET-UG paper leak, amidst student protests demanding stricter safeguards against examination fraud. 3 How does the proposed amendment expand the coverage of the anti-paper leak law? ⌵ The proposed amendment will broaden the scope of the law to include all public examinations conducted at the state level, in addition to those held by central agencies.
4 What types of offences does the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act cover? ⌵ The Act covers a wide range of offences including leaking question papers, unauthorized access to exam materials, tampering with answer sheets, and conducting fake examinations for financial gain. 5 Should examination authorities be held accountable under the new law? ⌵ Legal experts argue that institutional accountability must be strengthened alongside harsher penalties, advocating for statutory responsibilities on examination authorities and technology vendors to prevent leaks. Also Read | Coaching hub Kota edgy this season as NEET row rages on As the amendments are yet to be introduced in parliament, the final provisions will be known only after the Bill is tabled. The move comes hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a late-night video message to protesting students on Thursday announced the government would introduce a Bill with stronger provisions against paper leaks during the ongoing Monsoon Session. Current provisions The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, which came into force on 21 June 2024, was brought in to curb paper leaks, organized cheating and other unfair practices in public examinations after widespread concerns over alleged irregularities in examinations such as NEET and UGC-NET. The legislation was introduced to create a dedicated legal framework to deal with offences committed by various entities involved in conducting public examinations by the central government and its agencies. The law currently applies to examinations conducted by agencies including the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Staff Selection Commission (SSC), Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs), Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS), Testing Agency (NTA), and recruitment examinations held by central ministries and departments, besides other authorities notified by the Centre. Emails seeking comments from the cabinet secretariat, the ministries of education, higher education, and the Prime Minister's Office on Friday evening were not immediately answered.
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