Govt To Table Anti-Cheating Bill Today: What The Public Examinations Amendment Bill 2026 Means For Students | Education and Career News
Last Updated:
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh will seek permission to introduce the Bill and will also move for it to be taken up for consideration and passed by the House.
The govt said the new law is intended to further strengthen the exam system and protect the interests of candidates. (Photo: PTI)
The Union Government is set to introduce the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha on Monday to strengthen the legal framework against paper leaks and other exam malpractices. Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh will seek permission to introduce the Bill and will also move for it to be taken up for consideration and passed by the House.
The proposed amendment aims to make the existing anti-cheating law tougher by introducing stricter punishment for organised exam fraud and paper leaks. The Bill will provide for higher jail terms, increased fines, faster investigations, and speedy trials to ensure greater transparency and accountability in the conduct of national public examinations.
The amendment builds on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, which was enacted to prevent unfair practices in major public examinations conducted by agencies such as the UPSC, SSC, NTA, and Railway Recruitment Boards.
What The Bill Proposes?
The minimum jail term for offences has been increased from three years to five years, while the maximum punishment has been raised from five years to ten years. The maximum fine has also been increased from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 50 lakh.
The Bill also introduces tougher action against service providers involved in exam malpractice. They may be fined up to Rs 5 crore and barred from conducting public examinations for eight years instead of the current four-year ban.
If directors or senior officials of these service providers are found involved in exam-related offences, they can face at least five years in prison and fines of up to Rs 5 crore. Cases involving organised exam fraud will attract even harsher penalties, including a minimum prison sentence of seven years and a minimum fine of Rs 10 crore.
To help ensure faster investigations, the proposed law allows the Central Government to set up a Special Task Force (STF) in addition to referring cases to a Central Investigating Agency. It also requires that investigations under the Act be completed within two months.
ALSO READ | Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Resigns Amid Massive Protests Over NEET Paper Leak
The Bill comes at a time when concerns over paper leaks and cheating in competitive examinations have remained a major issue across the country. If passed by Parliament, the amendment is expected to provide stronger legal measures to deter organised exam fraud and improve the credibility of public exams.
About the Author
A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses and information on college and school admissions, board and competitive exams, career options, topper interviews, job notifications, …Read More
Read More