New Delhi, July 29: Concerns are rising again over exam paper leaks and their impact on students and young candidates. On Tuesday, discussions began in the Lok Sabha regarding the ‘Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) (Amendment) Bill, 2026.’ This proposed legislation is part of the government’s broader initiative to take strict action against those involved in exam fraud.
The government has introduced this amendment as a significant reform aimed at enhancing accountability and preventing large-scale irregularities in competitive exams.
The bill seeks to amend the ‘Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.’ It proposes increased jail sentences and financial penalties. Additionally, it establishes strict timelines for investigations and prosecutions.
Presenting the bill for consideration, Minister of State in the Prime Minister‘s Office, Jitendra Singh, stated that this law reflects the government’s commitment to protecting the interests of students and youth. He described the amendment as a step towards making the current system more effective and stringent.
The original 2024 law was enacted following several incidents of exam paper leaks and came into effect in June of that year. It defined 15 categories of offenses, including leaking question papers or answer keys, operating fake exam websites, and assisting in unfair means.
Under the law, all offenses were categorized as cognizable (arrest without a warrant), non-bailable, and non-compoundable, while candidates themselves were exempt from its purview.
The proposed amendment increases penalties based on different levels of involvement. Those found guilty of using unfair means will face a minimum of five years in prison (up from three years), with a maximum sentence of up to ten years. The maximum fine has also been raised from 1 million rupees to 5 million rupees.
Service providers involved in conducting exams will now face a fine of 5 million rupees, increased from the previous 1 million. They could also be barred from conducting public examinations for up to eight years instead of four. For organized attempts to manipulate exams, the minimum sentence has been raised from five to seven years, along with a fine of 10 million rupees.
The bill also sets strict timelines for legal proceedings. Investigations must be completed within two months of the case being referred by the central government. It includes provisions for fast-track courts, requiring states and union territories to designate session courts for hearing such cases.
Trials are expected to conclude within three months of the charge sheet being filed, while appeals in the High Court will be heard by a bench of two judges within the same timeframe whenever possible.
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