5-10 yrs in jail, Rs 50L-10 cr fine: Anti-paper leak Bill set to be introduced in House next week, Pg6

Key Highlights:

• The Union government plans to introduce the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Act, 2026 in Parliament.
• The Bill increases punishment for individuals involved in unfair means from 3-5 years to 5-10 years imprisonment and fines from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 50 lakh.
• For organized crime related to unfair means, imprisonment will increase from at least 5 years to at least 7 years, and fines from Rs 1 crore to Rs 10 crore.
• A Special Task Force will be established for investigations, with a two-month timeline.
• The Bill mandates the setting up of Special Fast Track Courts to ensure speedy trials within three months of filing a charge-sheet.
• The amendments follow recent student protests against the NEET-UG question paper leak in May.

Detailed Insights:

• The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Act, 2026 aims to strengthen the existing Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.
• The amendments seek to enhance the credibility and fairness of the public examination system by deterring malpractices.
• The scope of the Act covers examinations conducted by major bodies like UPSC, SSC, Railway Recruitment Board, IBPS, and National Testing Agency.
• The provision for Special Fast Track Courts is designed to ensure day-to-day trials and quicker resolution of cases.
• Cases currently pending under the 2024 Act will be transferred to these newly designated fast-track courts upon the commencement of the amendment.
• The move underscores the government's commitment to addressing concerns regarding transparency and integrity in public recruitment processes.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act: Legislation aimed at preventing and penalizing malpractices in government-conducted examinations.
• Special Task Force: A dedicated investigative unit established to probe cases of unfair means under the Act within a specified timeframe.
• Special Fast Track Courts: Designated courts of session tasked with conducting speedy, day-to-day trials for offenses under the Act.