Anti-paper leak Bill introduced in Rajya Sabha, debate begins
New Delhi, July 30
Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Thursday introduced the Public Examinations Amendment Bill, aimed at strengthening measures against paper leaks, in the Rajya Sabha.
A discussion on the bill is currently underway in the Upper House and is expected to last approximately seven hours.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge was participating in the debate on behalf of the party. The Lok Sabha passed the bill on Wednesday after a debate of approximately nine hours.
While introducing the bill, Jitendra Singh said the proposed amendments reflected the government's willingness to "learn from experience" following the implementation of the 2024 anti-paper leak law.
He informed the House that 52 FIRs had been registered since the original law came into force. The minister also stated that suicides linked to paper leaks had declined after the enactment of the earlier legislation.
The bill seeks to further tighten provisions against the use of unfair means in public examinations.
The government has positioned the amendments as a response to practical challenges observed during the implementation of the 2024 law, with the aim of making the framework more effective.
Before the formal discussion progressed, Chairman Radhakrishnan referred to Rules 235 and 238 and urged members not to make "running commentary" during the proceedings.
He observed that the House had many elegant members and called for disciplined debate.
A brief exchange took place over the allocation of time for the Leader of Opposition. It was noted that the time allocated to the position was already occupied.
A request was made for special time to be given to the Leader of Opposition. The Chairman responded that if additional time was genuinely required, it would be allocated.
The Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, observed that the Leader of Opposition and Leader of the House are always respected in such matters.
Following this, the Chairman called upon Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge to speak on the Bill.
The discussion is expected to continue for several hours, with members from various parties set to present their views on the proposed amendments and the broader issue of examination integrity.
The introduction of the bill in the Rajya Sabha marks the next legislative stage after its passage in the Lok Sabha.
The government has maintained that the changes will help further curb paper leaks, while the detailed debate will allow the Opposition and other members to examine the provisions and their likely impact.
— IANS
Reader Comments
The debate in Parliament is important but I hope they also discuss why students resort to unfair means in the first place—lack of jobs, pressure, coaching mafia. Just punishing won't solve the root cause. The 7-hour debate should address these structural issues too. 🙏
Impressive that the Lok Sabha spent 9 hours debating this. Paper leaks destroy the lives of honest students who study for years. The government should also consider digitizing exam processes more—like Aadhaar-based verification, encrypted question papers, real-time monitoring. That would complement the legal measures.
Bahut sahi hai! But I hope the bill also addresses the coaching mafia that leaks papers for money. In states like Bihar, MP, UP, paper leaks have become a business. If the government is serious, they should also investigate past cases and punish the big players. Only then will students trust the system again.
Good move but I worry about over-criminalization. The bill should distinguish between organized syndicates and individual students who may be victims of coercion. Also, the decline in suicides linked to paper leaks is welcome—that shows the 2024 law had some impact. Let's see if this amendment is more comprehensive.
Respectful criticism: Why does the bill need amendments so soon after the 2024 law? Either the original law was rushed or the government is learning on the job. Both are concerning. Also, the 52 FIRs figure—how many resulted in convictions? Without conviction, FIRs are just numbers. Need accountability in implementation.