Modi Govt Clears Tougher Anti-Paper Leak Bill, Parliament Test Likely On Monday

Last Updated:July 25, 2026, 13:57 IST

According to government sources, PM Modi, while chairing the Cabinet meeting, stressed that the legislation should be accorded top priority

In a major move aimed at tightening the legal framework against examination fraud, the Union Cabinet on Friday approved the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, proposing significantly harsher punishments, time-bound investigations and Special Fast Track Courts to deal with paper leak cases.

According to government sources, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while chairing the Cabinet meeting, stressed that the legislation should be accorded top priority and directed that it be brought before Parliament at the earliest. The Bill is expected to be introduced in the Lok Sabha on Monday.

WHAT IS IN THE BILL?

The proposed amendments substantially enhance the penalties prescribed under the existing Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024. The minimum punishment for offences under the Act has been increased from three years to five years, while the maximum imprisonment has been enhanced from five years to ten years. The maximum fine has also been raised from ₹10 lakh to ₹50 lakh.

The Bill further proposes stringent action against service providers found involved in examination fraud. Such entities could face fines of up to ₹5 crore and be barred from conducting public examinations for eight years, replacing the existing four-year prohibition.

Directors and senior management officials of service providers found complicit in examination-related offences will face a minimum imprisonment of five years along with fines of up to ₹5 crore. Organised examination fraud will attract even stricter punishment, including a minimum jail term of seven years and a minimum fine of ₹10 crore.

To ensure speedy investigation, the proposed law empowers the Central Government to constitute a Special Task Force (STF) in addition to referring cases to a Central Investigating Agency. Investigations under the Act will have to be completed within two months.

The amendments also mandate every State and Union Territory to designate Special Fast Track Courts to exclusively hear offences under the Act. These courts will conduct day-to-day proceedings and complete trials within three months of the filing of the chargesheet. Pending cases under the Act will also be transferred to these courts and continue from the stage at which they stand transferred.

The Bill further provides for the appointment of Special Public Prosecutors by every State and Union Territory and lays down a dedicated appellate mechanism. Appeals against judgments of the Special Fast Track Courts will lie before a Division Bench of the concerned High Court, which will endeavour to dispose of such appeals within three months.

According to the Statement of Objects and Reasons accompanying the Bill, the amendments are intended to strengthen the integrity, transparency and credibility of public examinations by ensuring time-bound investigations, speedy trials and a stronger deterrent against organised examination fraud.

POLITICAL CHALLENGE

While the NDA government has the numbers to secure passage of the legislation through a simple majority in both Houses of Parliament, the political challenge may prove more difficult than the legislative one.

Opposition parties have consistently maintained, both inside and outside Parliament, that they will not engage on the issue without the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the recent paper leak controversy. They have repeatedly demanded his removal before any discussion on examination reforms or related legislation can proceed.

With Parliament set to reconvene on Monday after the weekend recess, the proposed legislation is expected to trigger a fresh confrontation between the Treasury and Opposition benches. Whether the Bill receives bipartisan support despite the ongoing political standoff will be closely watched, as the government seeks to push through reforms aimed at delivering swift justice in paper leak cases and restoring public confidence in the examination system.

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