Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 (Current Events)
Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 (Current Events)
Why In News:
The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 28 July 2026 by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh.
Source: PIB, 27 July 2026, Public Examinations Amendment Bill 2026; The Indian Express, Page 9, 28 July 2026, Exam reforms after the 2024 leak
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2290080®=48&lang=2
The Parent Act[1] [2]
Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024: India's first standalone central law to check cheating, impersonation and organised paper leaks in examinations conducted by UPSC, SSC, Railways, banking bodies and the NTA.
Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (DoPT); passed by Parliament in February 2024 and commenced from 21 June 2024.
Original penalties: Minimum three years and up to ten years imprisonment, with fines up to one crore rupees for organised cheating by service providers.
Key Features of the Amendment Bill, 2026
Special Fast Track Courts: Empowers State Governments and Union Territory Administrations to designate any Court of Session as a Special Fast Track Court exclusively for offences under the Act.
Time bound procedures: Bill envisages completion of investigation within two months and completion of trial within three months from the date of filing of the charge sheet.
Enhanced penalties: Proposes raising the minimum term of imprisonment from three to five years, with the maximum extendable up to ten years, along with steeper financial penalties on coaching centres and service providers.
Individuals may face fines up to ₹50 lakh, while coaching centres and service providers involved in malpractice can be penalised up to ₹5 crore. In cases involving organised crime syndicates, fines may extend up to ₹10 crore.
Special Public Prosecutors: States and Union Territories may appoint dedicated legal counsel for prosecuting examination malpractice cases.
Key Facts for Prelims
Coverage: The Act covers examinations conducted by UPSC, SSC, Railway Recruitment Boards, IBPS, NTA and central ministries and departments for recruitment.
Nature of offences: Offences under the Act are cognizable, non-bailable and non-compoundable.
National Testing Agency (NTA): The National Testing Agency (NTA) was set up as a society under the Indian Societies Registration Act, 1860.
It functions as an autonomous and self-sustaining body responsible for conducting entrance examinations for admission to higher educational institutions.