The legislation was introduced in the House on July 27 by Union Minister Jitendra Singh, days after nationwide protests over the NEET paper leak controversy.
Amid much uproar, the Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, a legislation aimed at making India’s anti-paper leak law more stringent by introducing faster investigations, dedicated courts and harsher penalties for offenders.
The Bill was passed by a voice vote amid opposition sloganeering and a walkout over Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s remarks against Union Home Minister Amit Shah during the debate.
The amendment comes in the backdrop of nationwide outrage over examination irregularities, mainly the NEET-UG paper leak row, which sparked protests and renewed demands for tougher action against organised cheating rackets.
The legislation was introduced in the House on July 27 by Union Minister Jitendra Singh, days after nationwide protests over the NEET paper leak controversy culminated in the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as Union Education Minister. The government had tabled the amendment bill on Monday.
Weeks of protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) over repeated paper leaks and irregularities in competitive examinations had put the Narendra Modi government under intense pressure, with demonstrators demanding accountability, systemic reforms and action against those responsible for compromising the future of lakhs of aspirants.
Why Was The Bill Amended?
The government enacted the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 to criminalise paper leaks and other unfair practices in public examinations.
However, recurring controversies involving recruitment and entrance examinations — including the NEET paper leak — prompted the Centre to revisit the law.
As per the Centre, the 2026 amendment seeks to plug gaps identified during the implementation of the 2024 Act, strengthen enforcement and ensure quicker action against those involved in examination fraud.
While moving the Bill, Singh said that the amendments were being introduced in an “honest spirit” and urged political parties not to politicise an issue that affects millions of students.
He further said that 52 FIRs have been registered since the 2024 law came into force and said reported suicides linked to paper leak incidents had declined in recent years.
Major Changes In The Bill
1. Fast-track courts for paper leak cases: The Bill proposes dedicated fast-track courts in every state and Union Territory to exclusively hear cases related to paper leaks and examination malpractice. The objective is to ensure that such cases are not delayed in the regular criminal justice system.
2. Time-bound investigation and trial: The amendment lays down strict timelines for criminal proceedings, including investigations must be completed within two months, and trials should be concluded within three months after the filing of the chargesheet.
3. Tougher punishment: The Bill substantially increases punishment for individuals involved in paper leaks and examination fraud. Those found guilty could face: Five to ten years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 50 lakh
4. Harsher penalties for organised syndicates: The legislation targets organised paper leak networks with even stricter punishment. Such syndicates could face: A minimum seven-year jail term, and fines of up to Rs 10 crore.
5. Special Task Force: The Bill empowers the Centre to constitute a Special Task Force (STF) to investigate large-scale or organised examination frauds spanning multiple states.
6. Wider definition of examination fraud: The amended law expands the list of offences covered under its ambit. These include: Question paper leaks, OMR sheet tampering, Fake websites, Fake admit cards, and Other organised unfair means in public examinations.
Is This A New Law?
No. India already has the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.
The legislation passed by the Lok Sabha is an amendment Bill, meaning it modifies and strengthens the existing law rather than replacing it.
