The government introduced the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, in the Lok Sabha on Monday, proposing penalties of up to ₹10 crore for examination paper leaks. The bill also includes provisions for longer jail terms, wider coverage of state-level exams, fast-track courts, and time-bound investigations, following nationwide protests over exam irregularities and the resignation of education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, according to livemint.com.
The amendment expands the law’s scope to cover all public examinations, including those conducted by state governments. It aims to strengthen deterrence by increasing fines and jail terms for those involved in leaking exam papers. The bill mandates the establishment of fast-track courts to ensure speedy trials and requires investigations to be completed within a specified timeframe. These measures come after widespread student protests demanding stricter action against unfair means in exams, as reported by livemint.com.
This legislative move addresses growing concerns about examination integrity across India’s education system. The proposed ₹10 crore fine marks a significant increase compared to existing penalties, reflecting the government’s intent to clamp down on malpractice. The bill’s inclusion of state exams broadens its impact beyond central examinations, potentially affecting millions of students nationwide. The fast-track court provision is expected to expedite legal processes, a response to criticism of delays in prosecuting exam-related offenses, according to livemint.com.
The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, was tabled on July 27, 2026, in the Lok Sabha. The bill now awaits parliamentary debate and approval before becoming law, marking a critical step in the government’s efforts to safeguard examination fairness and credibility across India.