By Soniya:
New Delhi, July 30: The Lok Sabha has passed the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, introducing stricter measures to tackle paper leaks and examination fraud across the country. The Bill aims to strengthen the existing anti-paper leak law by ensuring tougher punishments, faster investigations, and time-bound trials.
Introduced by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh during the Monsoon Session, the amendment seeks to enhance the legal framework established under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, following several high-profile examination paper leak cases.
Under the new provisions, individuals convicted of paper leaks can face 5 to 10 years of imprisonment along with a fine of up to ₹50 lakh. Organized criminal networks involved in examination fraud may face a minimum of seven years in prison and fines of up to ₹10 crore.
To ensure speedy justice, the Bill mandates that investigations into paper leak cases be completed within two months, while Special Fast-Track Courts will conduct day-to-day hearings and aim to conclude trials within three months of filing the charge sheet. The Central Government will also have the power to constitute a Special Task Force (STF) to investigate major examination fraud cases involving organized syndicates.
Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Dr. Jitendra Singh said the amendment reflects the government’s commitment to protecting the integrity of public examinations and strengthening the law based on experience gained since the 2024 Act came into force.
The legislation covers examinations conducted by agencies such as the UPSC, SSC, NTA, Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs), and banking recruitment agencies, with the objective of ensuring fair, transparent, and credible recruitment and entrance examinations.
The Bill was passed after a debate in the House, during which Opposition members raised concerns over the handling of recent examination paper leak cases, including the NEET controversy. Despite disruptions, the legislation was approved, marking another step toward strengthening India’s examination system and restoring confidence among students and job aspirants.
