New Delhi: The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday by Union Minister Jitendra Singh, a day after it was passed in the Lok Sabha by a voice vote following an extensive discussion. The Upper House took up the Bill for debate.
Presenting the legislation, Singh said the proposed amendments build upon the anti-paper leak law enacted in 2024 and reflect the government’s commitment to strengthening safeguards against examination-related fraud. He said the changes were based on lessons learned during the implementation of the existing law and reaffirmed the Centre’s “zero-tolerance” policy towards paper leaks.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s repeated assurances to students, the minister said the government would not allow anyone to jeopardise the future of the country’s youth. He appealed to members of the House to support the Bill, describing it as a step towards making the law more stringent and effective.
Under the proposed amendments, the punishment for individuals found using unfair means in public examinations has been increased from three to five years’ imprisonment to five to ten years, while the maximum fine has been raised from ₹10 lakh to ₹50 lakh.
The Bill also proposes stricter penalties for service providers involved in examination-related offences. The maximum fine has been increased from ₹1 crore to ₹5 crore, while the debarment period from conducting public examinations has been extended from four years to eight years.
For directors and senior management of such service providers, the proposed punishment has been enhanced to five to ten years’ imprisonment, with fines of up to ₹5 crore. In cases involving organised examination-related crime, the minimum jail term has been increased from five years to seven years, with the maximum remaining 10 years, while the maximum fine has been raised to ₹10 crore.
The legislation also provides for the establishment of Special Fast Track Courts to ensure speedy disposal of cases. Investigations into offences under the Act must be completed within two months, while trials are proposed to be concluded within three months of the filing of the charge sheet. The Bill further provides for the appointment of Special Public Prosecutors and empowers the government to constitute a Special Task Force to investigate examination-related offences.
Highlighting broader reforms, Singh said the Centre had already constituted a high-level task force headed by Nandan Nilekani to recommend measures for making the public examination system leak-proof. He added that significant progress had been made in implementing the panel’s recommendations to strengthen the examination ecosystem.
The Union Minister also informed the Rajya Sabha that 52 FIRs have been registered since the original anti-paper leak law came into force and claimed that suicides linked to paper leak incidents had declined.
