The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 has officially become law after receiving President Droupadi Murmu’s assent, ushering in sweeping reforms to tackle exam paper leaks and restore integrity in public examinations.
The new law mandates the establishment of fast‑track courts in every state for speedy trials of paper leak cases, with investigations required to be completed within two months.
Under the provisions, individuals found guilty of exam malpractices face 5–10 years in jail and fines up to Rs 50 lakh. For organised exam crimes, the punishment is harsher — a minimum seven‑year sentence and fines up to Rs 10 crore.
The legislation, cleared by both Houses of Parliament earlier this week, marks a decisive step in the government’s efforts to safeguard the future of millions of students and deter organised rackets exploiting public examinations.
