Govt tables law amendment to check exam paper leaks, moots ₹10 cr penalty, wider ambit
The government tabled the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha on Monday in the wake of nationwide student
The government tabled the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha on Monday in the wake of nationwide student protests over alleged examination irregularities that culminated in the resignation of education minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday. The Bill that seeks to amend the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 was tabled by minister of state in the department of atomic Energy Jitendra Singh. The Bill proposes a fine of up to ₹10 crore for offences related to paper leaks and other organized examination malpractices, as against the maximum penalty of ₹1 crore for organized crimes under the current law. The amendments will also expand the law's coverage to include all public examinations, including those conducted by state governments. Quick answers to key questions • 5 QUESTIONS 1 What penalties does the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 propose for examination paper leaks? ⌵ The amendment bill proposes penalties including fines of up to ₹10 crore for serious offences related to paper leaks, increased imprisonment terms of five to ten years, and higher fines for individuals using unfair means. 2 Why is the amendment to the anti-paper leak law being introduced now? ⌵ The amendment follows widespread student protests and concerns over examination irregularities, particularly the NEET-UG paper leak, prompting the government to strengthen the law to ensure integrity in public examinations. 3 How will the new bill ensure faster investigations and trials for examination fraud?
⌵ The bill mandates that investigations must be completed within two months, and it establishes Special Fast Track Courts that are required to complete trials within three months of the chargesheet being filed. 4 What specific changes are introduced for service providers under the new bill? ⌵ Service providers may face fines of up to ₹5 crore and can be barred from conducting public examinations for eight years if found guilty of involvement in examination fraud. 5 Should educational institutions be concerned about the new anti-paper leak law? ⌵ Yes, educational institutions should be concerned as the new law includes provisions for the attachment and forfeiture of properties involved in organized examination fraud, elevating the stakes for compliance. Under the proposed Bill, the offences are cognizable, non-bailable and non-compoundable. Individuals found guilty of using unfair means face increased imprisonment of five to ten years, from three to five years under the existing law, and an increase in the fine from up to ₹10 lakh to up to ₹50 lakh. It also proposes that service providers can now be fined up to ₹5 crore, besides recovery of examination costs and debarment from conducting public examinations for eight years. If the amendments are passed, apart from a minimum fine of ₹10 crore and an imprisonment of seven to ten years, properties of institutions involved in organized examination fraud may be attached and forfeited. Mint had earlier reported that the Centre was preparing to strengthen the anti-paper leak law through amendments that would propose steeper penalties and bring state-level public examinations within its ambit.
The BriefWire