President clears anti-paper leak law

India's President Droupadi Murmu has given her assent to a new law designed to curb unfair means in public examinations, marking a significant step in addressing exam irregularities. The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, was passed by both houses of Parliament earlier this week.

The legislation introduces substantially harsher penalties for individuals involved in paper leaks and other fraudulent activities during public exams. Offenders now face a minimum of five years in jail, extendable up to 10 years, along with a fine of up to ₹50 lakh. This is a considerable increase from the previous maximum of three years imprisonment and a ₹10 lakh fine.

For cases involving organized crime syndicates, the penalties are even more severe, with a proposed minimum sentence of seven years and fines reaching up to ₹10 crore. The law identifies 15 specific illegal acts, including leaking question papers, manipulating answer sheets, creating fake examination websites, and issuing counterfeit admit cards. The government expedited the bill's passage amidst widespread student protests against the NEET 2026 paper leak, signaling a firm stance against examination malpractices.