Govt introduces anti-paper leak Bill in Lok Sabha amid protests
Jitendra Singh, Minister of State in the Ministry of Atomic Energy, tabled the bill that aims to strengthen the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, which came into force in 2024 to prevent unfair practices and organized cheating networks in public examinations.
The move comes amid protests over alleged irregularities in competitive exams, including the NEET paper leak issue.
The bill envisages increasing the sentence for people convicted under the law from the current three to five years of imprisonment to at least five and at most 10 years. The maximum fine has also been increased from ₹ 10 lakh to ₹ 50 lakh.
The proposed law increases the maximum penalty from ₹ 1 crore to ₹ 5 crore for private institutions and service providers engaged by examination authorities to conduct examinations, print papers, provide logistics or technology support. The ban from participating in public examinations will also be increased from four to eight years.
The bill proposes to take stricter action against executives, senior managers and individuals responsible for companies committing exam fraud. If they are found to be involved or conniving, the minimum prison sentence will be increased from three to five years and the fine will rise from £1 billion to £5 million.
For organized examination-related offenses involving individuals, institutions, examination authorities or service providers, the minimum prison sentence is proposed to be increased from five to seven years, while the minimum fine is proposed to be increased from ₹1 billion to ₹10 billion. The amendment bill also seeks to introduce a time-bound mechanism to address paper leak cases. Investigations carried out by the police, central investigation units or the Special Task Force constituted by the Center will have to be completed within two months.
It also provides for the appointment of Special Fast Track Courts by the states and Union Territories in consultation with the High Courts to exclusively try offenses under the Act. These courts will be required to complete cases within three months after the charges are filed.
The legislation also proposes a special appeal mechanism that would allow appeals against the orders of Special Fast-Track Tribunals before a two-judge Supreme Court bench and aim to dispose of such appeals within three months.
The changes are aimed at improving transparency, fairness and reliability in public examinations by strengthening deterrence against paper leaks and organized abuses, the center said.
