Parliament passes paper leak Bill as Opposition walks out of Rajya Sabha, Pg15

Key Highlights:

• The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 was passed by the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, following its passage by the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
• The Bill aims to strengthen the existing Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, by introducing stricter penalties and enhanced investigative powers to combat unfair means in public examinations.
• Opposition members from the Indian National Developmental, Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) walked out of the Rajya Sabha during the debate, protesting the government's handling of paper leaks, including the recent NEET controversy.
• The amendment proposes imprisonment terms ranging from 5 to 10 years and fines up to ₹50 lakh for individuals, and up to ₹10 crore for organized crime and institutions involved in unfair means.
• The legislation mandates the establishment of Special Fast Track Courts and Special Task Forces for time-bound investigations (within two months) and trials (within three months of chargesheet filing).

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Detailed Insights:

• The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 was introduced to address recent incidents of question paper leakages and malpractices that have undermined the transparency and fairness of public examinations.
• Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension, Jitendra Singh, highlighted the government's commitment to safeguarding student interests and ensuring merit, consistency, transparency, and credibility in the public examination system.
• Opposition leader Mallikarjun Kharge demanded a Supreme Court-monitored high-powered committee probe into the NEET paper leaks and police actions against protesters, also calling for the Union Home Minister's resignation.
• The NEET-UG 2026 examination, held on May 3, 2026, was cancelled on May 12, 2026, due to a paper leak and irregularities, leading to widespread protests and arrests, including officials from the National Testing Agency (NTA).
• The amendment comprehensively defines "unfair means" to include digital malpractices such as hacking, use of AI tools, and online cheating syndicates, reflecting technological advancements in exam malpractices.
• The DMK party, while part of the INDIA bloc, did not participate in the walkout but moved amendments to the Bill, which were subsequently defeated.
• The Bill also includes provisions for the attachment and forfeiture of property acquired through proceeds of exam-related crimes, aligning with the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
• The 2026 amendment enhances the debarment period for service providers found engaging in unfair means from four years to eight years.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024: A pan-Indian legislation enacted to prevent unfair means in public examinations and ensure transparency and credibility.
• Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026: Legislation amending the 2024 Act to introduce stricter penalties, enhanced investigative powers, and faster judicial processes for exam malpractices.
• National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET): An all-India pre-medical entrance examination conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission to undergraduate medical programs.
• Indian National Developmental, Inclusive Alliance (INDIA): A multi-party political alliance of several opposition parties in India, formed to counter the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
• Special Fast Track Courts: Dedicated courts mandated by the Bill to ensure expeditious disposal of cases related to examination malpractices, with trials to be completed within three months of chargesheet filing.
• Special Task Force: A specialized unit to be constituted under the Bill to investigate offences related to organized unfair means in public examinations, with investigations to be completed within two months.