Overview of the Bill Passage
On 30 July 2026 the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 was approved by the Rajya Sabha. The Bill seeks to strengthen the legal framework against paper‑leak mafias that have plagued exams such as NEET, UPSC and other national tests conducted by the NTA.
Key Developments (Bullet Points)
- Union Minister Jitendra Singh highlighted the Bill’s coverage of fake websites, fake admit cards and the entire digital ecosystem of examinations.
- Opposition parties staged walkouts, accusing the government of politicising the issue and of imposing an “undeclared emergency”.
- Parliamentarians from BJP, AITC, JMM, SP, CPI(M) and others debated the adequacy of punishments versus the need for systemic reform.
- The Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha earlier on a voice vote.
- Statistics cited: 152 paper leaks since 2014 with no convictions; 7.22 lakh appointments (2004‑14) vs 10.96 lakh (2014‑24).
Important Provisions of the Bill
- Investigation of a paper‑leak case must be completed within two months.
- States/UTs may designate fast‑track courts to try cases within three months of filing the charge‑sheet.
- Individual offenders face imprisonment of 5‑10 years and fines up to ₹50 lakh.
- Organised rackets attract a minimum of seven years imprisonment and fines up to ₹10 crore.
- The Centre can constitute a Task Force for special investigations.
Exam Relevance
The Bill directly impacts the integr