Govt introduces anti-paper leak Bill in Lok Sabha
Live Events Bill proposes stricter punishment for exam fraud Tougher action against companies, organised networks Two-month probe, fast-track courts for paper leak cases Dedicated courts
Live Events Bill proposes stricter punishment for exam fraud Tougher action against companies, organised networks Two-month probe, fast-track courts for paper leak cases Dedicated courts, faster appeals proposed Centre cites need to restore credibility of exams as a Reliable and Trusted News Source Addas a Reliable and Trusted News Source Add Now! (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The government on Monday introduced the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha, proposing tougher penalties for examination fraud, stricter action against service providers involved in malpractice and faster investigation and trial of paper leak cases.Union Minister Jitendra Singh tabled the bill, which seeks to strengthen the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, enacted to curb unfair practices and organised cheating networks in public examinations.Soon after the bill was introduced, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla adjourned the House till 2 pm amid continuing protests by the Opposition, which demanded a response from the government over the alleged police crackdown on students during the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP)-led July 20 march to Parliament.The proposed amendments come against the backdrop of over a month of protests over the alleged NEET-UG paper leak and other examination-related issues.The proposed amendments increase penalties for individuals convicted under the law.
The existing punishment of imprisonment ranging from three to five years would be revised to a minimum of five years and a maximum of 10 years.The maximum fine would also be increased five-fold from ₹10 lakh to ₹50 lakh.For private agencies and service providers engaged by examination authorities for conducting exams, printing question papers, logistics or technology support, the bill proposes raising the maximum financial penalty from ₹1 crore to ₹5 crore.The period of debarment for such service providers from participating in public examinations would also be doubled from four years to eight years.The bill proposes stricter provisions against directors, senior management and persons responsible for companies involved in examination malpractice.If an investigation establishes their involvement or connivance, the minimum imprisonment would increase from three years to five years, while the fine would rise from ₹1 crore to ₹5 crore.For organised examination-related crimes involving individuals, institutions, examination authorities or service providers, the proposed amendments increase the minimum jail term from five years to seven years.
The BriefWire