After an intense and often acrimonious debate spread over two days, the Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, by a voice vote, paving the way for stricter legal measures to combat paper leaks and examination-related malpractices.
The legislation amends the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, and was passed after prolonged discussions marked by sharp exchanges between the treasury and Opposition benches.
While the NDA and its allies supported the Bill and called for wider reforms in the examination system, Opposition members questioned whether the proposed amendments addressed the root causes of recurring examination failures and paper leaks.
The amended law seeks to strengthen transparency, accountability and integrity in public examinations through tougher punitive provisions while safeguarding the interests of students.
Among its key provisions are enhanced penalties, including imprisonment of up to 10 years, fines of up to Rs 10 crore, confiscation of the assets of those found guilty, and a mechanism aimed at ensuring that judgments in such cases are delivered within three months.
The Bill comes in the aftermath of widespread student protests over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations and seeks to strengthen the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.
Announcing the proposed legislation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday described paper leaks as a matter of serious concern, saying such incidents cause distress to lakhs of students and their families. He said the government had acted against those responsible and ensured that nearly 22 lakh students were able to reappear for the affected examination without losing an academic year.
The Prime Minister said the proposed amendments would provide for speedy investigation, fast-track trials and stricter punishment for those involved in examination-related offences, with the objective of reinforcing the transparency, fairness and credibility of the country’s public examination system.
While the 2024 Act established a comprehensive legal framework to deter organised malpractice, the 2026 Bill seeks to make enforcement swifter and more stringent by addressing procedural delays and strengthening deterrence.
(IANS)
