The Indian government has introduced the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, in the Rajya Sabha, aiming to strengthen measures against examination malpractices. This move follows the recent cancellation and re-conduct of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) 2026 due to an alleged paper leak.
The amendment seeks to enhance the existing Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, by increasing penalties for various offences. For instance, individuals using unfair means could face imprisonment between five and ten years, along with fines up to 950 lakh, a significant rise from the previous three to five years and fines up to 910 lakh.
Additionally, the bill proposes the establishment of Special Fast Track Courts to expedite trials related to examination malpractices, aiming to complete proceedings within three months. It also empowers the central government to form a Special Task Force for swift investigations, with a mandated completion time of two months.
These legislative changes are in response to growing concerns over examination integrity, particularly following the NEET-UG paper leak and subsequent protests. The bill is expected to be discussed in the Rajya Sabha in the coming days.
The proposed amendments aim to deter individuals and organized groups from compromising the integrity of public examinations, thereby enhancing the credibility of the examination system. The bill is currently under consideration in the Rajya Sabha.