Parliament on Thursday approved a bill to amend the anti-paper leak law, providing for stricter punishment for offences related to public examinations. The government said it was acting on issues affecting students and sought cooperation from all sections to tackle the problem.
The Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 was passed by the Rajya Sabha by a voice vote amid an Opposition walkout, a day after it was cleared by the Lok Sabha.
According to the bill, individuals involved in paper leaks or unfair means in exams will get jail terms for a minimum of five years and a maximum of 10 years, and a fine of up to Rs 50 lakh.
For organised crimes, the bill proposes a minimum sentence of seven years and a fine of up to Rs 10 crore.
The amendment bill seeks to empower all the state governments and Union Territories administrations to designate any court of session to be a special fast-track court to try offences under the proposed law.
It also provides that the proceedings in such courts are continued on a day-to-day basis and the trial is completed within three months from the date of filing of the charge sheet.
The bill also empowers the central government to constitute a special task force for investigation of any offence, if necessary.
(With inputs from PTI)
