India Proposes Harsher Penalties for Public Exam Paper Leaks

The Government of India proposed the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, to strengthen laws against examination malpractices. The Union Cabinet cleared the bill on July 24, and it was circulated to Parliament on July 25. The legislation is expected to be introduced on July 27, 2026.

The move follows nationwide student protests, led by the Cockroach Janta Party, over alleged paper leaks in the May NEET-UG examination. Protesters demanded the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, prompting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to announce tougher legal measures against leakages.

The amendment significantly increases penalties for individuals, raising imprisonment from three to five years up to a range of five to 10 years, and increasing fines from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 50 lakh. For organized crime networks, the minimum prison term increases from five to seven years, with fines rising from Rs 1 crore to at least Rs 10 crore.

To eliminate legal delays, the bill mandates that all investigations conclude within 60 days and requires the establishment of Special Fast Track Courts to complete trials within three months. The legislation also authorizes the creation of Special Task Forces and the appointment of Special Public Prosecutors. Jitendra Singh stated the amendments aim to ensure transparency and fairness while providing a stronger deterrent against organized crime groups.