Public Examinations Amendment Bill 2026: What does the proposed anti-cheating law promise?

The Union Government on Monday (July 27, 2026) introduced the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, in Lok Sabha, in a bid to curb exam paper leaks in the country, ensuring stricter action against organised units involved in the criminal act. The Bill, seeking to amend the two-year old existing law, comes closely on the heels of an intense student-led agitation, leading to the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan.

The document states, “The act aims at effectively deterring persons, organised groups, and institutions from indulging in unfair means thereby committing offences, adversely impacting the sanctity of public examinations”.

What does the Bill promise?

• In a substantial shift, the Bill proposes an increased jail term for individuals convicted under the Act. By which, the maximum imprisonment has been increased from five to ten years.

• To ensure the perpetrator is punished adequately, the fine amount has been enhanced to ₹50 lakh from ₹10 lakh.

• The Bill proposes an increased jail term to five years from the earlier three years to directors, senior management personnel and officials colluded in the paper leak activity.

• Additionally, the Bill prescribes a maximum imprisonment for organised offences to seven years from the earlier five years. Also, the fine penalty has been raised to ₹10 crore from ₹1 crore.

Formation of Special Task Force

Even as the Union Government may refer any incident of paper leak to a Central Investigative agency, it also holds complete autonomy of constituting a task force for investigating the offences. Further, to ensure timely probe, the Bill has prescribed a deadline of two months to finish investigation.

Special Fast Track courts

The amendment proposes the formation of Special Fast Track Courts across States and Union Territories for quick delivery of verdict. The Bill stipulates that the court sessions must conduct hearings on a daily basis and finish trials within three months of filing the charge sheet.

To ensure the speedy prosecution, the Bill has moved the demand for State and Union Government to appoint one or more special public prosecutors. The Bill, pressing the need for a sturdy appellate mechanism, has proposed two judges of High Court would hear appeals against court judgments of Fast Track Courts. It has stated the appeals from the petitioners must be disposed of within three months from the date of admission.

In such context, the appeals have to be filed within 30 days of the judgment. “There should not be any delay beyond 90 days provided the High Court is satisfied with the provided reason”, the document states.