Cabinet clears bill proposing up to 10 years' jail, ₹10 crore fine for paper leaks

India's Union Cabinet has approved a draft bill that significantly increases penalties for exam paper leaks, proposing jail terms of up to 10 years and fines up to 100 million rupees ($1.2 million USD).

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There will be strict action against those involved in paper leaks and that no accused will go unpunished.

The bill aims to amend The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024. It introduces a minimum of five years' imprisonment for individuals involved in leaks. For organized crime syndicates and institutions engaging in unfair means for financial gain, the penalties are substantially increased from the current law, which mandates three to five years imprisonment for individuals and five to 10 years with a minimum fine of 10 million rupees for organized crime. The new legislation seeks to protect genuine candidates while deterring organized gangs.

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We are preparing to present the bill, but after you receive the briefing on our cabinet decision, we will inform you about our timing. The prime minister has said that there should be no delay in the bill we are bringing regarding students. The country also wants what the prime minister has said, so it would not be right to resort to any tactics to obstruct it.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the government's commitment to strict action against those involved in paper leaks, stating that no accused would go unpunished. The draft bill is scheduled to be tabled in the Lok Sabha on Monday. The government is also considering establishing special fast-track courts to expedite the resolution of such cases within three months.

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The Congress will fall into this if they continue to disrupt the parliamentary proceedings. We are taking important steps for the future of the students. If the Congress party continues to create all kinds of hurdles to prevent parliamentary discussion, then they will have to face the brunt of the youth of this nation and, in fact, the entire nation.

However, the bill faces potential political hurdles. The opposition, led by the Congress party, has indicated that parliamentary proceedings may be disrupted unless Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge has demanded the minister's dismissal and an apology to students. Union parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju criticized the opposition's stance, warning that disrupting parliamentary discussions on this crucial bill could alienate the youth.

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Before coming to Parliament today, come after dismissing Dharmendra Pradhan. First, apologise to the students and take strict action against those who