Guwahati: The Union government on Monday introduced the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, proposing stricter penalties, a special task force and fast-track courts to deal with paper leaks and other examination-related offences following nationwide protests over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations.
The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha by Union Minister Jitendra Singh amid sloganeering by Opposition MPs, who criticised the police over the alleged use of excessive force against protesters in Delhi on July 20. The House was subsequently adjourned till 5 p.m.
The proposed legislation prescribes imprisonment of five to 10 years for those found using unfair means in public examinations. It also raises the maximum fine from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 50 lakh.
For organised offences, including paper leaks, the Bill proposes a minimum prison term of seven years and a fine of up to Rs 10 crore.
It identifies 15 offences, including leaking question papers, tampering with Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) sheets, creating fake websites and issuing fake admit cards, as punishable under the law.
The Bill also empowers the Union government to constitute a Special Task Force to investigate paper leak cases. Investigations by the police, central agencies or the task force must be completed within two months.
It further mandates state governments and Union Territory administrations to establish special fast-track courts. Pending cases under the Act would be transferred to these courts and disposed of within three months of transfer.
The amendment comes after nationwide protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations. The campaign demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who stepped down on July 25, following which the party withdrew its agitation.
The protests began at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on June 6. On July 20, thousands joined a march to Parliament two days after activist Sonam Wangchuk, who had been on a hunger strike for three weeks, was taken to hospital by police.
The march was dispersed by police using batons, tear gas shells and pellet guns, leaving dozens of protesters injured. The crackdown triggered demonstrations in several parts of the country, including Assam, where protests were held across the state. In Lakhimpur district, police arrested three youths — Monjur Rahman (23), Ashraful Islam (21) and Abdul Kashem (23) of Islampur village under Laluk Police Station for allegedly creating a WhatsApp group to mobilise demonstrators. They were booked under Sections 61(2)(b), 353(1) and 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).