Government will not spare those involved in compromising recruitment and examination process, says Modi
BuzzBytes News Network
NEW DELHI, JULY 30: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday asserted that his government would launch a tough crackdown on paper leak networks after Parliament passed the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, aimed at preventing question paper leaks and ensuring transparency in public examinations.
Reacting after the legislation was cleared by both Houses of Parliament — the Lok Sabha on July 29 and the Rajya Sabha on July 30 — the Prime Minister said the government would not spare anyone involved in examination fraud.
“Paper mafia and paper leak gangs will not be spared,” Modi said in a post on Instagram, reiterating the Centre’s resolve to protect the future of millions of students and job aspirants.
The newly passed legislation seeks to strengthen the legal framework against organised paper leak rackets by prescribing stricter punishments, enhancing investigative powers and ensuring greater accountability in the conduct of public examinations.
The Bill amends the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, which came into force in June 2024. The 2026 amendments significantly tighten penalties across all categories of offenders. Individuals found using unfair means now face five to ten years imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 50 lakh. Service providers can be fined up to Rs 5 crore and debarred for eight years, while their managerial personnel face five to ten years imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 5 crore. For organised crime by paper leak syndicates, the punishment is seven to ten years imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 10 crore.
The Bill comes in the wake of repeated incidents of question paper leaks in recruitment and competitive examinations across the country — most notably the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, which triggered nationwide student protests, led to the cancellation and re-conduct of the exam, and culminated in the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
A major feature of the amendment is the introduction of time-bound investigation and trial. Investigation must be completed within 60 days from the date of registration of the offence. Special Fast Track Courts will be designated in every State and Union Territory to conduct day-to-day trials, which must be completed within three months from the filing of the chargesheet. Special Public Prosecutors will be appointed for each court. Appeals against judgments must be filed within 30 days before a Division Bench of the High Court and disposed of within three months. The Centre is empowered to constitute Special Task Forces for investigation and can recover the full cost of cancelled examinations from the organisations responsible for the fraud. All offences under the Act remain cognizable, non-bailable and non-compoundable.
Union Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh, who piloted the Bill in Parliament, said the amendments reflected the government’s willingness to “learn from experience” after implementing the 2024 law. Citing official figures, he informed the Lok Sabha that 52 FIRs have been registered since the original Act came into force, and that suicides linked to paper leak incidents have declined in recent years.
Home Minister Amit Shah hailed the legislation in a post on X, congratulating students across the country and describing the amendment as a measure that would “shield the dreams and aspirations” of the youth. “The Modi govt will spare no one who attempts to imperil the future of our students and will leave no stone unturned to ensure that they face the full wrath of the law,” Shah said.
The Bill’s passage was not without controversy. The Lok Sabha cleared it by voice vote on July 29 amid an Opposition walkout, with opposition members raising slogans over the NEET controversy and alleged police excesses against student protesters in Delhi on July 20. Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi had alleged that Home Minister Amit Shah ordered security forces to open fire at protesters — a charge Dr. Singh vehemently denied, insisting that “utmost restraint was exercised” and “no shots were fired at students.”
The law applies to all public examinations conducted by central authorities, including those conducted by the UPSC, SSC, NTA, Railway Recruitment Boards, IBPS, and Ministries and Departments of the Central Government and their attached offices.
With both Houses of Parliament having cleared the Bill, it now awaits Presidential assent before being notified in the Official Gazette and becoming enforceable law. The government has maintained that the new law will serve as a strong deterrent against organised examination fraud and help restore public confidence in the recruitment process.
The Prime Minister said the Centre remains committed to ensuring fair, transparent and corruption-free examinations, adding that strict action would be taken against all those found involved in paper leak conspiracies. The passage of the Bill is being seen as a significant step in the government’s efforts to curb examination malpractices and safeguard the interests of students and job seekers across the country.
