New Delhi: The Lok Sabha is set to commence a critical discussion on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, at 2:00 PM today. The session follows an intervention by Speaker Om Birla, who urged parliamentarians to prioritize dialogue and allow the legislative process to proceed. This move comes after both Houses of Parliament faced morning adjournments as the Opposition demanded a government response regarding the alleged use of excessive police force and pellet guns against student protesters during the July 20 “Sansad Chalo” march.
In an effort to break the parliamentary deadlock, Leader of the House JP Nadda and Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge held informal consultations in the Parliament canteen earlier today. While political tensions remain high over the recent crackdown on demonstrators, the government is pushing to tighten the regulatory framework surrounding national examinations. The Amendment Bill was formally introduced in the Lower House earlier today by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office.
The proposed legislation seeks to significantly bolster the existing 2024 Act by introducing a more aggressive punitive structure to curb organized malpractices. Key provisions of the 2026 Amendment include the establishment of Special Fast Track Courts for speedy trials, the appointment of dedicated Special Public Prosecutors, and the implementation of time-bound appeal disposals. These measures are designed to ensure that investigations into examination fraud are expedited and that accountability is enforced more rigorously.
Under the new proposal, the consequences for engaging in or facilitating unfair means are set to increase substantially. The minimum term of imprisonment will rise from three years to five years, with a maximum limit extended from five years to ten years. Furthermore, the maximum financial penalty will see a five-fold increase, moving from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 50 lakh. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) intends to lead the floor debate with a focus on its younger leadership, featuring MPs Bansuri Swaraj and Tejasvi Surya as the primary speakers to advocate for the Bill’s passage.
