India's Lok Sabha Passes Bill Raising Exam Fraud Penalties

The Lok Sabha passed the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, on July 29 via voice vote. Introduced by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, the legislation increases prison sentences for individuals using unfair means from a maximum of five years to ten years and raises individual fines from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 50 lakh. Organized crime syndicates face penalties of seven to ten years' imprisonment and fines reaching Rs 10 crore.

To expedite legal proceedings, the Bill establishes Special Fast Track Courts in every state, mandating that investigations be completed within two months and trials concluded within three months of a charge sheet filing. For service providers, the legislation extends debarment periods to eight years and increases maximum fines to Rs 5 crore.

The Bill's passage followed a marathon debate involving 91 proposed amendments and significant Opposition unrest. Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi accused Union Home Minister Amit Shah of authorizing police fire on students at Jantar Mantar during protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party. These protests had previously forced the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Government ministers and Speaker Om Birla defended the proceedings, with the government framing the Bill as a commitment to the integrity and transparency of public examinations.