Cabinet clears anti-paper leak bill proposing 10-year jail, Rs 10 crore fine

The Union Cabinet has cleared amendments to toughen the anti-paper leak law. The move comes amid protests over exam irregularities and pending reforms to the NTA.

In Short

• Draft amendments seek stronger action against examination fraud under 2024 law
• Individual offenders may face at least five years in prison and penalties
• Organised rackets could face fast-track trials and probes finished within three months

The Union Cabinet on Friday approved a draft legislation that seeks to significantly tighten punishment for paper leak offences, including imprisonment of up to 10 years and fines reaching Rs 10 crore, according to official sources.

The proposal was cleared during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Parliament House complex. It aims to amend the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, strengthening the legal framework against examination fraud.

Under the proposed amendments, individuals found guilty of paper leaks could face a minimum prison term of five years along with a financial penalty. Cases involving organised paper leak rackets would attract a maximum punishment of 10 years in jail and fines of up to Rs 10 crore.

PROVISIONS FOR TIME-BOUND INVESTIGATIONS

The draft legislation also introduces provisions for time-bound investigations and mandatory fast-track court trials. As per the proposal, investigations into paper leak cases must be completed within three months.

The existing law prescribes imprisonment of three to five years for individuals involved in paper leaks. Organised offences currently carry jail terms ranging from five to 10 years, along with a minimum fine of Rs 1 crore.

According to the government, the amendments are intended to deter organised criminal networks and institutions that profit from examination fraud, while ensuring that candidates are not penalised under the law.

The 2024 Act covers recruitment examinations conducted by agencies such as the UPSC and SSC, as well as major entrance examinations including NEET, JEE and CUET.

Sources indicated that the amendment bill is likely to be introduced in Parliament on Monday, following Prime Minister Modi's announcement in a video message released around midnight.

In the message, the Prime Minister said the government would bring legislation next week providing stronger legal action against paper leaks.

The announcement comes amid protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which has been demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The protesters have also sought accountability for examination irregularities, structural reforms in the education system, and compensation of Rs 1 crore for the families of students who allegedly died by suicide following the NEET-UG paper leak in May.

Government sources said the Cabinet continues to back the education minister and is unlikely to accept the Opposition's demand for his resignation.

The Opposition has also demanded an apology from the Prime Minister over the alleged police action against CJP protesters during the Parliament march on July 20.

Meanwhile, the government is examining a broader set of reforms related to the National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts the NEET-UG medical entrance examination, and expects to finalise those measures within the next one to two months.

The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 was the first central law specifically enacted to address paper leaks and organised examination malpractice after widespread concern over repeated exam irregularities. Government sources noted that although the National Policy on Education introduced during former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's tenure had proposed legislation to curb examination malpractices, no such law was enacted until 2024.

- Ends