The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 by a voice vote, significantly strengthening the legal framework against examination-related offences. The legislation introduces stricter punishments, higher fines, fast-track courts and special investigation mechanisms to curb organised exam fraud and safeguard the interests of students and job aspirants.
Congratulating students on the passage of the Bill, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the legislation would protect the aspirations of the country’s youth by imposing stringent penalties on those involved in compromising the integrity of public examinations.
In a post on X, HM Shah said, “Congratulations to every student in India on the passage of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 in Lok Sabha today. The bill shields the dreams and aspirations of our youth by laying down iron-clad provisions imposing the harshest punishment on those who dare to breach the sanctity of public examinations. The Modi government will spare no one who attempts to imperil the future of our students and will leave no stone unturned to ensure that they face the full wrath of the law.”
Replying to the debate in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh, said the amendments would further strengthen the legal framework to prevent unfair means in public examinations while reinforcing transparency and credibility in the examination system.
He said the Government remains committed to ensuring that public examinations are conducted fairly and that the law evolves to effectively tackle organised examination-related crimes. According to the Minister, the amendments incorporate lessons from implementation of the existing law and reflect the Government’s resolve to protect honest students.
The Minister noted that the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 was enacted to curb malpractice in examinations conducted by major recruitment and entrance agencies, including the UPSC, SSC, Railway Recruitment Boards, IBPS and the National Testing Agency (NTA). The Act had already classified such offences as cognizable, non-bailable and non-compoundable.
The Amendment Bill substantially enhances punishments for offenders. Individuals found guilty of using unfair means will now face imprisonment ranging from five to ten years, compared to the earlier provision of three to five years, while the maximum fine has been increased from ₹10 lakh to ₹50 lakh.
For service providers involved in examination-related offences, the maximum fine has been increased from ₹1 crore to ₹5 crore, and the debarment period from conducting public examinations has been extended from four years to eight years. Directors and senior management of such service providers will also face enhanced punishment of five to ten years’ imprisonment, along with fines of up to ₹5 crore.
The Bill also imposes tougher penalties for organised examination-related crimes, increasing imprisonment from seven to ten years and raising the maximum fine from ₹1 crore to ₹10 crore.
To ensure speedy justice, the legislation provides for the establishment of Special Fast Track Courts, with investigations to be completed within two months and trials within three months from the filing of the charge sheet. It also provides for the appointment of Special Public Prosecutors and empowers the Government to constitute a Special Task Force to investigate offences under the Act.
Singh also referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement of a high-level task force comprising eminent experts to make the public examination system “leak-proof,” adding that substantial progress has been made in implementing its recommendations.
Highlighting enforcement under the 2024 Act, the Minister informed the House that 52 FIRs have already been registered under its provisions, demonstrating the Government’s commitment to taking strict action against examination-related offences.
He said the objective of the amendments is to ensure that deserving students are rewarded for their genuine efforts while organised examination fraud is tackled through stringent legal provisions and swift justice.
With the passage of the Amendment Bill, the Government said it aims to further strengthen public confidence in the fairness, transparency and credibility of India’s public examination system while protecting the aspirations of millions of students and job seekers.
