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President assents to tougher public exam penalties
LiveLaw··1 Aug
President Droupadi Murmu on July 31 granted assent to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Act, 2026, passed after nationwide protests over paper leaks. Minimum punishment for unfair means rises from three to five years, maximum from five to ten years, and service provider fines can reach Rs 5 crore with eight year exam conduct bans.
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What It Means For You
- Anyone using unfair means in public exams now faces minimum five year imprisonment, up from three years, under the amended 2024 law receiving presidential assent.
- Exam conducting agencies found complicit can face fines up to Rs 5 crore and eight year bans, increased from Rs 1 crore and four years previously.
- Students who protested NEET leaks can track whether new fast track courts and two month investigation deadlines improve accountability in future leak cases.
What's Happening
- President Droupadi Murmu on July 31 granted assent to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Act, 2026.
- Parliament passed the bill last week after nationwide student protests over question paper leaks culminated in Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's July 25 resignation.
- The amendment increases maximum imprisonment for unfair means from five to ten years and raises fines for organised exam crimes to a minimum of Rs 10 crore.
Stricter Penalties After Paper Leak Protests
- States must designate Special Fast Track Courts to try offences under the Act, with trials on a day to day basis and completion within three months of chargesheet filing.
- Investigations must be completed within two months, and the Centre may constitute a Special Task Force or refer cases to a central investigating agency.
- Appeals against Special Fast Track Court orders will lie before High Court division benches expected to dispose of them within three months where possible.
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