Manipur Chief Minister Y. Khemchand Singh has welcomed Parliament’s approval of the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, describing it as a significant reform aimed at ensuring transparent and credible public examinations across the country.
Responding to the passage of the legislation, Singh said the amended law would reinforce the integrity of the examination system while safeguarding the aspirations of millions of students. In a social media post shared late on Thursday, he said the measure reflected the Union government’s commitment to strengthening India’s education system under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha by voice vote after several opposition parties belonging to the INDIA bloc staged a walkout. It had earlier received approval from the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
The amended legislation introduces substantially stricter punishment for examination-related offences. Individuals found guilty of leaking question papers or resorting to unfair means in public examinations can now face imprisonment ranging from five to 10 years, along with fines of up to ₹50 lakh.
The law also imposes tougher penalties for organised examination fraud. Those convicted of such offences may receive a minimum prison sentence of seven years and face fines of up to ₹10 crore.
To ensure speedy disposal of cases, the amendment empowers state governments and Union Territory administrations to designate Courts of Session as Special Fast Track Courts. These courts will be required to conduct day-to-day hearings and complete trials within three months of the filing of the charge sheet.
The legislation further authorises the Central Government to constitute a Special Task Force to investigate offences linked to examination malpractice and paper leak cases.
The original Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act came into force in 2024 following a series of major paper leak incidents. Before its enactment, India did not have a dedicated central law specifically dealing with unfair practices and offences related to public examinations conducted by the Union government and its agencies.
