The government has introduced the anti-paper leak bill in the Lok Sabha to strengthen the law against exam fraud. The move comes after weeks of student protests over the NEET paper leak and other examination irregularities.
New Delhi: Union Minister Jitendra Singh introduced the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, in the Lok Sabha on Monday. The bill seeks to amend the two-year-old anti-paper leak law and proposes stricter punishment for offenders.
Key provisions of the bill
The bill proposes a minimum jail term of five years, which can extend up to 10 years. It also increases the maximum fine to ₹50 lakh for those involved in unfair means in exams.
For organised crimes, the bill suggests a minimum of seven years in jail and fines up to ₹10 crore. Under the current law, paper leak offenders face three to five years in jail, while syndicates can get five to 10 years.
The legislation also identifies 15 illegal acts, including leaking question papers, tampering with OMR sheets, creating fake websites and issuing fake admit cards.
Fast-track courts and timelines
A major feature of the bill is the plan for fast-track courts in every state. These courts will handle paper leak cases for speedy trials and quicker justice.
The bill also sets a two-month timeline for completing investigations into paper leak cases. This aims to ensure faster disposal of cases and reduce delays in the legal process.
Opposition reaction
The introduction of the bill faced strong opposition protests in the House. Opposition MPs raised slogans over police action during student protests and demanded accountability for the NEET row.
Following the disruptions, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla adjourned the House till 2 pm. Later, more than six hours were allocated for MPs to debate the proposed legislation.
Government stance
The government says the bill will act as a strong deterrent against paper leaks. Officials argue that stricter punishment and faster trials will help restore trust in public examinations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also announced a task force headed by Nandan Nilekani to improve India’s examination systems. The government says further steps will follow based on the task force’s report.
