Government Proposes Stricter Penalties and Fast-Track Courts for Question Paper Leak Law The Union Cabinet has approved a significant amendment to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, aiming to introduce harsher punishments for individuals involved in leaking question papers during competitive exams. The proposed changes are set to be tabled in parliament during the upcoming monsoon session. This move comes amid widespread student protests across the country, which have been fueled by recurring incidents of question paper leaks in exams such as the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for medical admissions. The 2024 law, introduced by the government, was designed to combat unfair practices in public examinations, including leaking question papers, tampering with answer sheets, manipulating seating arrangements, creating fake websites for cheating, and conducting fraudulent exams. Its primary goal was to ensure transparency, fairness, and credibility in the education system, reassuring students that their efforts would be rewarded without bias. The amendments now seek to strengthen these measures by increasing penalties and introducing specialized mechanisms for enforcement. Under the proposed bill, individuals found guilty of unfair means in exams face a minimum of five years and a maximum of ten years in prison, up from the current three to five years. Fines for such offenses will also be significantly raised, with penalties increasing from ₹10 lakh to ₹50 lakh. Additionally, service providers responsible for conducting public examinations will face stricter consequences. If found accountable for paper leaks, their fines will rise from ₹1 crore to ₹5 crore, and they will be barred from organizing exams for eight years instead of four.#union_cabinet #dharmendra_pradhan #national_eligibility_cum_entrance_test_neet #special_task_force_stf
