Lok Sabha begins debate on anti-paper leak Bill ending week-long deadlock
Mail This Article
New Delhi: The Lok Sabha on Tuesday began debating the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, ending a week-long stalemate that had disrupted parliamentary proceedings since the start of the Monsoon Session.
Moving the Bill for consideration, Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh said the proposed legislation reaffirmed the government's commitment to protecting students and ensuring the integrity of public examinations.
Describing the 2024 law as a long-pending reform, Singh said the amendment seeks to make the legislation more stringent in the wake of recurring paper leak incidents.
"Paper leaks have taken place in various states ruled by different parties. The anti-paper leak Bill is a reaffirmation of the government's commitment to safeguard the welfare of students and youth," he said.
The Bill, introduced in the Lok Sabha on Monday, proposes stricter penalties for those involved in examination malpractices, including imprisonment of up to 10 years and fines of up to ₹50 lakh for paper leak offences.
The debate began after Parliament resumed normal business following days of disruption over the NEET paper leak controversy. The Opposition had stalled proceedings since the Monsoon Session began on July 20, demanding a discussion on the issue and raising concerns over the police crackdown on students during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led "Chalo Parliament" march on July 20.
On Monday, the Bill was introduced amid Opposition sloganeering over the alleged police action, leaving no room for a discussion.
During Tuesday's proceedings, RSP MP N K Premachandran moved a motion seeking that the Bill be circulated for wider stakeholder consultations until December 1, arguing that such consultations would help strengthen the proposed legislation.
The government had introduced the amendment days after nationwide student protests over the NEET paper leak culminated in the resignation of former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The proposed amendments are aimed at strengthening the existing Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 by prescribing tougher punishments and tightening measures against examination fraud.
