New Delhi : The Narendra Modi-led Central Government is set to introduce The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 in Parliament on Monday, proposing stricter penalties and faster investigation and trial mechanisms to curb examination paper leaks and malpractice.
According to the proposed legislation, the minimum punishment for offences related to paper leaks and other unfair means in public examinations will be enhanced from three years to five years, while the maximum punishment will remain 10 years’ imprisonment, along with a fine of up to ₹50 lakh.
For cases involving organised paper leak syndicates or organised crime, the Bill proposes increasing the minimum imprisonment to seven years, along with a fine of up to ₹10 crore.
The proposed amendment also empowers the Central Government to constitute a Special Task Force (STF) for investigating cases of examination paper leaks and organised malpractice.
To ensure speedy justice, the Bill mandates that investigations be completed within two months. It further provides for day-to-day trial proceedings, with courts required to conclude trials within three months of the filing of the chargesheet.
In addition, the legislation proposes that appeals, wherever filed, should be decided within three months, as far as possible, with the objective of ensuring swift disposal of cases related to examination fraud.
The proposed amendments are aimed at strengthening the legal framework against examination malpractice, expediting investigations and trials, and enhancing the deterrent effect of the law against paper leak rackets and organised cheating networks.