Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 30 welcomed Parliament’s approval of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, calling it a significant step towards making the country’s examination system more transparent and trustworthy. He also warned that those involved in paper leak rackets would face strict action.
In a video message shared on Instagram after the Rajya Sabha passed the Bill, Modi said the government has been consistently working to improve transparency and strengthen the examination process.
“We are continuously taking steps to build a reliable examination system,” the Prime Minister said. He added that the reforms were prepared after consulting state governments, many of which have dealt with paper leak incidents for several years.
Describing paper leaks as a serious threat to students’ futures, Modi said reforms in the education system had become the need of the hour. He also stressed the importance of using technology to prevent examination fraud.
“There is a need for the wider and effective use of technology,” he said.
Issuing a stern warning to organised cheating networks, Modi said that anyone involved in paper leak mafias and playing with the future of the country’s youth would not be spared. He said strong legal provisions were necessary to deal with such offences.
Modi noted that the Bill was passed by both Houses of Parliament within two days after detailed discussions. He said the government remains committed to building a fair and credible examination system and ensuring such incidents are prevented in the future.
The legislation, which had already been cleared by the Lok Sabha, was passed by the Rajya Sabha on Thursday and will now be sent to the President for assent. Opposition members staged a walkout from the Upper House before the Bill was passed.
Replying to the debate, Union Minister of State Jitendra Singh said examination fraud affects every family in the country, especially the millions of students preparing for competitive exams.
He said around 7.65 crore students would benefit from the new measures aimed at strengthening the examination system. Singh also highlighted reforms under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, calling it a “game changer” that offers students greater flexibility in their education.
According to Singh, investigations into examination-related offences must be completed within two months, while trials in Special Fast Track Courts should be concluded within three months after the filing of the charge sheet.
Calling paper leaks a long-standing national challenge, Singh said such incidents had occurred under various state governments and previous central administrations. He also pointed out that the number of universities has increased from 760 to 1,293, while nearly 400 Eklavya schools are now functioning across the country.
Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, criticised the Bill, saying it contained only cosmetic changes and did not go far enough to guarantee transparent and paper leak-free examinations.
While extending support to the legislation, Kharge said the government acted only after public outrage over repeated examination irregularities. He also demanded a National Youth Employment Strategy, a fixed annual examination calendar, filling vacant government posts—especially those reserved for Scheduled Caste and OBC candidates—and judicial oversight of investigations into police action against protesters.
The amended law introduces much stricter punishment for examination fraud. Those found using unfair means can now face imprisonment of five to ten years, instead of the earlier three to five years, while the maximum fine has been increased from ₹10 lakh to ₹50 lakh.
Service providers involved in examination-related offences may face fines of up to ₹5 crore and can be barred from conducting public examinations for eight years, compared to the earlier four-year ban. In cases involving organised examination crime, the minimum jail term has been increased to seven years, extendable to ten years, while the maximum fine has been raised from ₹1 crore to ₹10 crore.
The legislation also allows the Centre to establish a Special Task Force to investigate paper leak cases. It provides for time-bound investigations, day-to-day hearings in Special Fast Track Courts, and the appointment of Special Public Prosecutors to ensure speedy trials.