Government Calls Anti-Paper Leak Bill a Milestone as Lok Sabha Begins Debate

The Union government on Tuesday described the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 as a landmark piece of legislation. The Bill seeks to impose stricter penalties, including up to 10 years of imprisonment and fines of up to ₹50 lakh, for offences related to paper leaks in public examinations.

The Bill was taken up for discussion in the Lok Sabha after a week-long deadlock. Opposition parties had insisted on first debating the police action against students protesting over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination. The protest had led to the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Introducing the Bill, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said it reaffirmed the government's commitment to protecting the interests of students and youth. He noted that instances of paper leaks had occurred in states governed by various parties, underscoring the need for a stronger central law.

To ensure speedy justice, the Bill provides for the establishment of Special Fast Track Courts. It mandates that investigations be completed within two months and trials within three months of filing the chargesheet. The government has already initiated steps to set up such courts in multiple locations.

The Bill also empowers the central government to refer investigations to a Special Task Force to deal with organised examination-related crimes. Singh said the amendments would reinforce deterrence and boost public confidence in the fairness of the examination system.

The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Monday amid protests by opposition members. A total of 91 amendments have been moved, with some members calling for wider stakeholder consultations. The Speaker initially allocated six hours for the debate, later extended to ten hours.