The government presented a stringent piece of legislation aimed at cracking down on question paper leaks and fraudulent practices during examinations in the Lok Sabha on Monday. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, laid the Public Examinations Prevention of Unfair Means Amendment Bill, 2026 before the House amidst a loud uproar by opposition lawmakers. The opposition MPs were actively disrupting proceedings to demand accountability regarding the police action against protesting students in Delhi on July 20, alongside pressing for a formal response from Home Minister Amit Shah.
Persistent Opposition Protests And House Adjournment
As the pandemonium and sloganeering continued unabated inside the chamber, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla urged the opposition members to maintain order. He assured them that adequate time would be allotted for a comprehensive debate on the subject, proportional to the collective agreement of the House. Appealing for cooperation on this vital legislation, the Speaker reminded the protesting MPs that they had themselves been demanding a discussion on this very matter for a long time. He promised that the government would earnestly consider any constructive suggestions put forward during the deliberations.
Invoking the spirit of parliamentary democracy, Speaker Om Birla emphasized that true democratic processes thrive when diverse viewpoints are openly expressed. He urged members to abandon slogan-shouting and the display of placards in favor of constructive debate. Despite his repeated appeals, the disruption persisted, leaving no option but to adjourn the Lok Sabha proceedings until 2 PM.
Severe Penalties Involving Long Prison Terms And Hefty Fines
According to copies of the legislation distributed among members of Parliament, individuals found guilty of leaking question papers or employing unfair means during exams will face rigorous imprisonment ranging from a minimum of five years to a maximum of 10 years, coupled with fines of up to 50 lakh rupees. Furthermore, the amendments to the Public Examinations Prevention of Unfair Means Act, 2024 propose a minimum imprisonment of seven years and staggering fines scaling up to 10 crore rupees for organized crime syndicates involved in such malpractices.
Strict Timelines For Investigations And Trials
Under the proposed legislative updates, all criminal investigations stemming from these offenses must be concluded within a strict window of two months. The draft bill also outlines directives for states and union territories to establish fast-track courts dedicated to these matters. These designated courts are mandated to wrap up trial proceedings within three months of the police filing a chargesheet.
This major legislative push by the government follows a series of high-profile developments, including a protest rally organized by the Cockroach Janata Party at Jantar Mantar against the NEET paper leak, subsequent to which Dharmendra Prasad stepped down from his ministerial portfolio. In addition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced the formation of a high-powered committee to overhaul and reform the broader examination system.
