Union Cabinet Clears Draft Bill to Impose Tougher Punishments for Paper Leak Offences
Amendment to the Public Examinations Act aims to strengthen action against organised exam fraud, mandate fast track trials, and safeguard the integrity of competitive examinations.
NEW DELHI, Jul 24: In a significant move to tighten the legal framework against examination fraud, the Union Cabinet on Friday approved a draft amendment to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, proposing far stricter punishments for those involved in paper leaks and organised examination scams.
The decision was taken during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Parliament House complex. The proposed legislation is expected to be introduced in Parliament during the upcoming week as part of the government’s broader effort to restore confidence in the country’s examination system.
Under the proposed amendments, individuals found guilty of leaking examination papers could face a minimum prison sentence of five years, along with financial penalties. In cases involving organised syndicates or large-scale examination fraud, the punishment could extend to 10 years of imprisonment, accompanied by a fine of up to ₹10 crore.
The proposed law also introduces a stricter timeline for the investigation and trial of such offences. Authorities will be required to complete investigations within three months, while designated fast-track courts will be entrusted with ensuring speedy disposal of cases. The government believes that quicker investigations and trials will strengthen deterrence and improve accountability.
The existing provisions under the 2024 law prescribe imprisonment ranging from three to five years for individual offenders and five to ten years, along with a minimum fine of ₹1 crore, for organised criminal networks involved in examination malpractice. The proposed amendment significantly enhances the financial penalties while reinforcing procedural mechanisms for faster justice.
According to government sources, the revised legislation is primarily intended to dismantle organised rackets that profit from manipulating recruitment and entrance examinations. At the same time, the amendments seek to protect genuine candidates from being unfairly implicated while ensuring that criminal conspiracies are dealt with firmly.
The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act currently covers recruitment examinations conducted by agencies such as the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and the Staff Selection Commission (SSC), along with major national entrance examinations including NEET, JEE, and CUET. The government hopes the strengthened law will further secure the credibility of these examinations.
Official sources said the amended bill is likely to be tabled in Parliament on Monday, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement that legislation containing stronger provisions against paper leaks would be introduced during the current session.
The announcement comes against the backdrop of continuing political protests over examination irregularities. Demonstrators have been demanding greater accountability, comprehensive reforms in the education system, and compensation for families affected by the alleged consequences of recent examination controversies.
Despite opposition demands seeking the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, government sources indicated that the Cabinet continues to express full confidence in the minister. The Centre is also unlikely to accept calls for his resignation.
The government is simultaneously working on broader reforms within the National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG) and several other national level entrance examinations. Officials indicated that measures aimed at improving transparency, examination security, and institutional functioning are expected to be implemented over the next few months.
The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, enacted in 2024, marked the country’s first dedicated legislation specifically targeting examination paper leaks and organised cheating. With the proposed amendments, the government seeks to further strengthen the legal framework to deter examination fraud, ensure swift justice, and preserve the credibility of India’s competitive examination system.
