Centre set to introduce strict anti-paper leak amendments in Lok Sabha on Monday
New Delhi, July 25
Against the backdrop of high-voltage political drama, nationwide protests, and the recent resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, the Central Government is set to introduce the Public Examinations Amendment Bill, 2026, in the Lok Sabha on Monday.
Union Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Dr. Jitendra Singh will move for leave to introduce the legislation. The Bill introduces seven key amendments designed to plug enforcement loopholes, establish dedicated judicial mechanisms, and accelerate criminal trials following widespread irregularities in the NEET-UG 2026 examination.
The legislative push comes after a complete washout of the ongoing Monsoon session of Parliament, which commenced on July 20, as opposition parties and student groups maintained unrelenting pressure on the Centre over paper leaks.
The proposed legislation seeks to significantly overhaul the original 2024 framework by instituting strict time bounds for both investigations and judicial proceedings.
State Governments and Union Territory Administrations will be empowered to designate Courts of Session as Special Fast Track Courts dedicated exclusively to trying offences under the Act.
Proceedings in Special Fast-Track Courts must be conducted on a day-to-day basis, with trials mandated to conclude within three months from the date the chargesheet is filed.
The Centre retains the authority to constitute a dedicated Special Task Force to handle high-stakes or cross-state examination fraud. Investigations into offences under the Act must be completed within two months to prevent procedural delays.
State Governments and UT Administrations will be authorised to appoint specialised legal counsel specifically for prosecuting examination malpractices.
Enhanced terms of imprisonment and heavier financial penalties for individuals, coaching centres, and service providers found guilty of organised paper leaks.The introduction of the amendment bill follows weeks of intense turmoil in the Capital. A 37-day-long demonstration spearheaded by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) alongside activist Sonam Wangchuk culminated in the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and a series of high-level negotiations with Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh.
While the CJP announced the formal withdrawal of its sit-in at Jantar Mantar "in good faith" after reaching an understanding with the Centre, all eyes now turn to Parliament.
The passage of the 2026 Amendment Bill will serve as a crucial test for the Centre as it attempts to restore institutional credibility, safeguard the future of competitive exam aspirants, and rebuild public trust in national testing agencies.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Finally some action! As a mother of a medical aspirant, the anxiety these leaks cause is unimaginable. My daughter studied day and night only to see others cheat their way in. Strong penalties for coaching centres involved in these scams are very welcome. Government should also ensure the Special Task Force is truly independent and non-political.
This is a good step but honestly, the entire system needs a complete revamp, not just amendments. The resignation of the education minister was a clear signal that things were rotten to the core. Let's hope the bill passes smoothly in Lok Sabha and doesn't get stuck in political games.
As a final-year MBBS student, I can't stress enough how unfair these leaks are for deserving candidates. I had friends who lost seats by a margin of 2-3 marks because someone paid their way in. The bill allowing state governments to appoint special counsel is smart—local expertise can speed up cases. Let's hope implementation is tighter than the previous laws.
I'm cautiously optimistic. The two-month investigation deadline is ambitious but necessary. However, we need to think about how the Special Fast Track Courts will handle the workload—our judiciary is already overburdened. Also, how will they ensure that coaching centres don't just register under different names? Genuine reforms need continuous oversight, not just laws.
A classic case of trying to fix a leaking bucket by patching one hole at a time. The real issue is the systemic corruption in exam administration—from the National Testing Agency to state-level bodies. Stronger penalties are welcome, but we need digitization of the entire process, maybe blockchain-based question paper distribution, to
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