India Debates Strict New Anti-Paper Leak Bill in Lok Sabha

Union Minister of State Jitendra Singh introduced the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha on July 28, ending a six-day legislative stalemate. The bill seeks to curb examination malpractices, specifically addressing NEET-UG paper leaks, by increasing imprisonment to between five and ten years and raising the maximum fine to Rs 50 lakh. It also proposes Special Fast Track Courts to ensure investigations are completed within two months and trials within three months.

The legislation follows a period of intense student protests and the resignation of former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. While BJP members described the bill as a transformative commitment to student welfare, opposition leaders from the Congress, Samajwadi Party, and TMC condemned the government. They specifically highlighted the use of pellet guns, AK-47s, and tear gas against student protesters at Jantar Mantar and Lok Kalyan Marg.

Opposition MPs questioned the efficacy of the proposal. Shashi Tharoor argued that the government is prioritizing punishment over prevention and criticized the staffing shortages at the National Testing Agency. Meanwhile, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Akhilesh Yadav accused the government of suppressing youth voices and claimed that Pradhan's resignation was a direct result of protest pressure. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju dismissed these critiques, alleging that opposition members were delivering political speeches rather than debating the bill's merit.