Subject: Governance

Enacted into law, the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, responds to repeated incidents such as NEET‑UG paper leaks that shattered public trust. It seeks to restore credibility, fairness, and transparency in recruitment and entrance examinations conducted at the national level.

Key Aims of the Act

• Prevention of Malpractices: The Act criminalises various malpractices—paper leaks, impersonation, collusion, tampering with answer sheets or ranking, fake websites or admit cards, hacking systems, and more.

• Enhance Examination Integrity and Credibility: It aims to reassure candidates that exams will reward genuine merit and uphold meritocracy.

• Deterrence Through Severe Penalties:

  • Individuals face 3–5 years imprisonment, extending up to 10 years for organised crime, along with fines up to ₹10 lakh.
  • Service providers (e.g., exam agencies) face fines up to ₹1 crore, liability for exam costs, blacklisting for 4 years, and if executives are complicit, fines and prison up to ₹1 crore or 10 years.

• Clear Attribution of Accountability: Offences are cognizable, non‑bailable, non‑compoundable, and investigations must be led by officers of DSP/ACP rank or higher.

• Technology and Institutional Safeguards: Establishes a National Technical Committee to prescribe IT security protocols for digital and computer-based examinations.

Objectives of the Act

• Deterrence Framework: Creating a comprehensive legal framework to deter individuals and organizations from engaging in unfair practices.

• Standardization: Setting uniform standards and procedures for conducting public examinations across the country.

• Technological Integration: Promoting the use of technology for better monitoring and conduct of examinations.

• Stakeholder Protection: Safeguarding the interests of genuine students and maintaining the credibility of educational institutions.

Scope and Coverage

• Primary Focus: The Act primarily covers central government recruitment examinations and competitive tests. These include: UPSC, SSC, RRBs, IBPS, NTA, and central ministries/departments.

• State and University Exams Excluded: State government boards and universities are not currently covered, unless the Central Government chooses to notify them under the Act. It instead serves as a model framework for states to enact similar legislation.

The Act serves as a blueprint for educational reform, encouraging states and institutions to develop robust examination systems aligned with national standards while maintaining their administrative independence.