New Delhi: The Lok Sabha passed an amendment to the existing anti-paper leak Bill on Wednesday that will ensure stricter punishment for those involved in the crime.
The Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, had been introduced in the House by Union minister Jitendra Singh on Monday.
The Bill was passed amid sloganeering by Opposition parties.
Singh told the Lok Sabha that the government had acted swiftly in the NEET paper leak case and 52 FIRs had been registered since the anti-paper leak law came into force in 2024, as reported by The New Indian Express.
The amendment Bill showed that the government was willing to learn from experience, he said, adding that the number of suicides linked to paper leaks had also declined in recent years.
After some bitter exchanges between members of the NDA and the Opposition, the House was adjourned for the day.
According to details shared in the House, the fine for organised crime has been hiked tenfold — from Rs 1 crore to Rs 10 crore — while the punishment has been enhanced from 5-7 years to 7-10 years of imprisonment.
Under the new law, entities found guilty will face an extended debarment period of up to 8 years, up from the earlier 4 years. Additionally, the penalty for individuals or groups involved in malpractice has been raised from Rs 1 crore to Rs 5 crore, as reported by Republic TV.
The government sees this Bill as a firm response to repeated instances of question paper leaks that have disrupted competitive examinations and affected the future of lakhs of students in recent years. Proponents argue that the enhanced deterrents will discourage both individuals and organised syndicates from engaging in such activities.
The Bill will be taken up in the Rajya Sabha in next few days. Once passed by both Houses and receiving Presidential assent, it will become law, replacing or amending earlier provisions with these tougher norms.
