The proposed legislation seeks to strengthen the existing anti-paper leak law with time-bound investigations, faster trials, enhanced penalties and a new appeal mechanism.

The Central Government on Monday introduced the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha, proposing a series of measures aimed at strengthening India’s legal framework against examination paper leaks and related malpractices.

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Minister of State for the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) Jitendra Singh introduced the Bill, which seeks to amend the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 following nationwide concerns over alleged examination paper leaks, including the NEET-UG controversy.

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Fast-track courts proposed for paper leak cases

A key feature of the proposed legislation is the establishment of Special Fast-Track Courts for offences covered under the Act.

Under the Bill, State Governments and Union Territory Administrations will be empowered to designate Courts of Session as Special Fast-Track Courts to hear paper leak cases.

The legislation also mandates that proceedings in these courts be conducted on a day-to-day basis, with trials expected to be completed within three months of the filing of the chargesheet.

Time-bound investigations

The proposed amendments also introduce strict timelines for investigations.

According to the Bill, agencies investigating offences under the Act will be required to complete investigations within two months, with the aim of ensuring quicker prosecution and reducing delays in high-profile examination cases.

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Centre may establish Special Task Force

To strengthen enforcement, the Bill proposes giving the Central Government the authority to constitute a Special Task Force (STF) whenever necessary.

The STF would be responsible for investigating offences under the anti-paper leak law, particularly in cases requiring coordinated or specialized investigations.

Special prosecutors and tougher penalties

The amendment also enables State Governments and Union Territory Administrations to appoint one or more Special Public Prosecutors to handle cases under the Act.

In addition, the government has proposed increasing both prison terms and monetary penalties for offences covered under the legislation, although the detailed revised punishment provisions will be determined under the amended law.

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Appeal mechanism included

The Bill also proposes a dedicated appeal process.

Appeals against judgments, sentences or orders issued under the Act would be heard by a Division Bench of the respective High Court, with the legislation proposing that such appeals be disposed of within three months of admission.

Introduced amid nationwide examination reforms

The proposed amendments come amid continued public attention on alleged examination irregularities and paper leak incidents that triggered protests by students across the country.

Student organizations and Opposition parties have demanded stronger safeguards, greater accountability and reforms to restore confidence in public examinations.

Last week, the Union Cabinet approved the proposed amendments before they were introduced in Parliament.

The government has said the changes are intended to improve transparency, strengthen deterrence against examination fraud and ensure quicker disposal of paper leak cases.

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FAQ

What is the Public Examinations Amendment Bill, 2026?

It is a proposed amendment to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, aimed at strengthening laws against paper leaks and examination-related fraud.

What are the key provisions of the Bill?

The Bill proposes fast-track courts, time-bound investigations, stricter punishments, Special Public Prosecutors, a Special Task Force and a dedicated appeal mechanism.

How quickly must paper leak investigations be completed?

The proposed legislation requires investigations into offences under the Act to be completed within two months.

Why has the government introduced these amendments?

The amendments have been proposed following concerns over alleged examination paper leaks and demands for stronger legal safeguards to protect the integrity of public examinations.

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