New paper leak bill prescribes 2-month window for probes, speedy trials

India is set to introduce stringent amendments to its Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, aiming to curb the growing problem of exam paper leaks and malpractices. The proposed bill, promised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi amid widespread student protests, seeks to enhance transparency and credibility in the public examination system.

The amendments significantly increase penalties for those resorting to unfair means. The minimum jail term will be raised from three years to five years, extending up to ten years, with fines escalating to ₹50 lakh. Service providers found guilty will face a hefty ₹5 crore fine and will be barred from participating in public examinations for eight years, a substantial increase from the current four-year ban.

For organized crime leading to paper leaks, the bill prescribes a minimum jail term of seven years, potentially extending to ten years, along with a ₹10 crore fine. The government also plans to establish special task forces and fast-track courts. These courts will be mandated to complete trials within three months of chargesheets being filed, with daily proceedings to ensure swift justice.

Union minister Jitendra Singh is scheduled to introduce the bill in the Lok Sabha. The move comes after recent incidents of question paper leaks, including the NEET exam scandal, which led to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan taking responsibility and resigning. The government aims to restore faith in the examination process through these decisive legislative actions.

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In recent years, there have been some incidents of question paper leakages and malpractices in examinations conducted by public examination authorities, which tend to affect the transparency and fairness of the public examinations system. Hence, in order to further strengthen the fairness, to enhance the credibility of the public examinations system and to facilitate speedy trial and ensure time bound investigations of offences under the said act, it is necessary to make amendments in the said Act.