India Passes Bill Increasing Penalties for Exam Paper Leaks

The Indian Parliament passed the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, on July 30, 2026, following a voice vote in the Rajya Sabha. The legislation targets paper leaks, organized cheating, and examination mafias by expanding the legal framework to cover tampering with computer systems, the creation of fake websites, and the leakage of answer keys.

Narendra Modi described the law as a step toward a reliable examination system, stating that those involved in leaks "will not be spared." The bill significantly increases penalties for individuals, raising minimum imprisonment from three to five years and maximum terms from five to ten years. Individual fines have risen from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 50 lakh. Service providers face a maximum fine of Rs 5 crore and an extended debarment period from conducting examinations, increasing from four to eight years.

The law applies to major recruitment agencies including the Union Public Service Commission, Staff Selection Commission, and the National Testing Agency. To further secure the ecosystem, the government is implementing AI-enabled face authentication and Aadhaar-based biometric verification. Union Minister Jitendra Singh noted the amendments would strengthen the legal framework while safeguarding the interests of youth.