- The Centre has proposed The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 to strengthen the anti-cheating law, which was circulated among members of Parliament on Saturday (July 25, 2026).
- The bill is expected to be introduced in Parliament on Monday (July 27, 2026).
- The proposed legislation significantly toughens the penalties established under the 2024 Act, introducing mandatory two-month investigation deadlines and designated Special Fast Track Courts.
- Maximum imprisonment sentences for offenders have been increased, with financial penalties also seeing a steep hike.
- Under Section 10(1), the proposed bill escalates imprisonment from 3 to 5 years to 5 to 10 years and fines from ₹10 lakh to ₹50 lakh.
- Section 10(2) increases fines for service providers from ₹1 crore to ₹5 crore.
- Imprisonment for service provider directors/managers is escalated from 3 to 10 years jail and fines from ₹1 crore to ₹5 crore.
- For organized crime, Section 11(1) raises the minimum jail term from 5 years to 7 years and fines from ₹1 crore to ₹10 crore.
- All investigations must be concluded within 60 days, regardless of the investigating body.
- The Bill introduces Sections 12A and 12B, establishing an uninterrupted procedural pipeline.
- Courts are restricted from granting adjournments beyond the following day without explicit reasons.
- Appeals against bail orders must be filed within 30 days and will be adjudicated by a two-judge High Court bench.
- Recent incidents of paper leaks and malpractices have highlighted the need for urgent reforms.
- Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasized that the Act aims to bring greater transparency and inspire confidence in the public examination system.
- The amendments ensure time-bound investigations and enhanced deterrence against organized crime groups.
The Indian government has introduced The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, aimed at strengthening anti-cheating laws in response to rising exam malpractices. The bill proposes significant changes to existing legislation, including tougher penalties and expedited investigation processes.13
The proposed legislation significantly toughens the penalties established under the 2024 Act, introducing mandatory two-month investigation deadlines and establishing Special Fast Track Courts to address organized crime in examinations. Financial penalties for organized crime networks could reach up to ₹10 crore.48
Under the new bill, maximum imprisonment sentences for offenders have been increased. For instance, individual offenders could face 5 to 10 years in prison, with fines up to ₹50 lakh. Similarly, service providers could incur fines up to ₹5 crore and face imprisonment of 3 to 10 years.567
Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasized that the amendments aim to ensure time-bound investigations and speedy trials, enhancing deterrence against organized crime groups. He stated, “The objective of the Act is to bring greater transparency, fairness, and credibility, and to inspire confidence in the public examination system.”1415
The bill also mandates that all investigations, whether by local police or Central Investigating Agencies, must be concluded within 60 days, reflecting the urgent need for structural reforms in the wake of recent paper leaks and malpractices.913
“The proposed bill, officially named The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, specifies mandatory 60-day investigation deadlines and introduces steep financial penalties up to ₹10 crore for organized crime networks. Dr. Jitendra Singh noted that the amendments aim to bring greater transparency and credibility to the public examination system.”
