Rajya Sabha Approves Landmark Bill to Combat Examination Paper Leaks

The Rajya Sabha has passed the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, aimed at combating paper leaks in public exams. This legislation introduces stricter penalties and expedited legal processes to deter malpractices. Union Minister Jitendra Singh emphasized the government's commitment to learning from past experiences, noting a decline in suicides linked to examination leaks. The bill is now set to receive presidential assent, marking a significant step towards ensuring the integrity of public examinations. However, opposition members continue to call for broader reforms in the examination system.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 30, 2026, 22:37 IST

Legislation Passed to Strengthen Examination Integrity

New Delhi: On Thursday, the Rajya Sabha successfully passed the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, finalizing the legislative process aimed at enhancing protections against examination paper leaks.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh, responsible for Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions, was present during the Bill's approval.

Earlier in the day, Singh introduced the Bill, which had already been approved by the Lok Sabha following a lengthy debate lasting nearly seven hours.

During discussions in the Upper House, both government and opposition members engaged in a vigorous debate, with the government advocating for the amendments as essential to combat the paper-leak syndicate through increased penalties, specialized courts, and expedited trials.

The financial penalty for violations has been raised to Rs 10 crore, alongside provisions for imprisonment and accelerated legal proceedings.

While presenting the Bill, Jitendra Singh highlighted that the amendments were informed by lessons learned from the 2024 law, noting that 52 FIRs had been filed since the original legislation was enacted and that incidents of suicides linked to paper leaks had decreased.

With the Rajya Sabha's approval, the Bill is now set to receive presidential assent, paving the way for it to become law.

The debate in the Upper House featured intense exchanges, with opposition members criticizing the National Testing Agency and calling for structural reforms.

In contrast, government representatives emphasized their commitment to student welfare, referencing the resignation of the former Education Minister, the establishment of a task force led by Nandan Nilekani, and the prompt cancellation and rescheduling of compromised exams.

With both Houses having cleared the anti-paper leak Bill, the government is anticipated to implement the amended provisions swiftly. The ruling party is framing this legislation as a robust response to ongoing examination malpractices.

Meanwhile, the opposition continues to advocate for broader systemic reforms in the administration of public examinations and increased accountability from the involved agencies.