The Union government will introduce the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 in Parliament on Monday to further strengthen the legal framework against paper leaks and examination-related malpractices.
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh will table the Bill, which seeks to amend the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024. A government notification for its introduction has already been issued.
The proposed legislation aims to enhance transparency and integrity in the public examination system through tougher legal provisions while safeguarding the interests of students. Key provisions include imprisonment of up to 10 years, fines of up to Rs 10 crore, confiscation of assets of those convicted, and a mechanism to ensure court verdicts are delivered within three months.
The move follows the Union Cabinet’s approval on Friday of the proposed amendments and related provisions to establish fast-track courts and impose stricter penalties in cases involving paper leaks and examination fraud, according to official sources. The Bill is expected to be taken up for consideration during the ongoing Parliament session.
The proposed fast-track courts will be mandated to complete trials and deliver judgments within three months to ensure the swift disposal of examination-related cases.
The initiative comes days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the Centre would introduce a comprehensive law providing for stringent action against those involved in paper leak cases.
In a video message posted on his official X account, the Prime Minister said the government had prepared a comprehensive draft Bill incorporating tougher legal provisions and stricter punishment for offenders. He also posted, “More strict actions against paper leaks to come in tomorrow’s Cabinet!”
Expressing concern over the impact of examination irregularities, PM Modi said paper leaks cause significant distress to students and their families. He noted that over the past two-and-a-half months, the Union government had taken multiple measures that led to the arrest and imprisonment of individuals allegedly involved in such offences.
Highlighting the government’s commitment to protecting students’ interests, the Prime Minister said all available resources had been mobilised to ensure that examinations for nearly 22 lakh (2.2 million) candidates were conducted without disruption.
(With inputs from IANS)
