Public
Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026
Prelims:
Polity
Mains:
GS Paper II-Government
Policies and Interventions, GS Paper IV-Ethics in Public Administration.
Current relevance:
The Public Examinations (Prevention
of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 was
introduced in the Lok Sabha to further strengthen the legal framework.
Highlights:
1.
Objective:
The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair
Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 seeks to further strengthen the legal framework
to curb examination-related malpractices, safeguard the interests of
students, and enhance the integrity, transparency, and credibility of public
examinations.
2. Existing Legal Framework:
The proposed amendments build upon the Public
Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, incorporating
implementation experience to make the law more stringent and effective in addressing
examination-related offences.
3. The Act covers examinations conducted by major
recruitment agencies including,
i.
Union Public
Service Commission (UPSC)
ii.
Staff
Selection Commission (SSC)
iii.
Railway
Recruitment Boards (RRBs)
iv.
Institute of
Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS)
v.
National
Testing Agency (NTA)
4. Key provisions:
i.
Individuals
using unfair means: Punishment is
proposed to be enhanced from 3–5 years' imprisonment to 5–10 years'
imprisonment, while the maximum fine is proposed to increase from ₹10
lakh to ₹50 lakh.
ii.
Service
providers involved in examination malpractices: The maximum fine is proposed to be increased from ₹1
crore to ₹5 crore, and the debarment period from conducting public
examinations is proposed to be extended from 4 years to 8 years.
iii.
Directors
and senior management of service providers: Punishment is proposed to be enhanced from 3–10 years' imprisonment
to 5–10 years' imprisonment, with the maximum fine increasing
from ₹1 crore to ₹5 crore.
iv.
Organised
examination-related crimes: The
punishment is proposed to be increased from 5–10 years' imprisonment to 7–10
years' imprisonment, while the maximum fine is proposed to be
enhanced from ₹1 crore to ₹10 crore.
5. Special provisions:
i.
Establishment
of Special Fast Track Courts to ensure speedy disposal of offences
relating to public examinations.
ii.
It is
implementing the recommendations of a high-level task force constituted
to make the public examination system "leak-proof."
iii.
The Central
Government is empowered to refer investigation of offences under the Act
to a Special Task Force, enabling swift and effective action against
organised examination-related crimes.
Source: PIB- https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2290606®=48&lang=2