India's Lok Sabha Passes Anti-Paper Leak Amendment Bill
The Lok Sabha approved the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 on July 29, 2026 by voice vote after a protracted debate. The bill moves to the Rajya Sabha, where Union Minister of State Jitendra Singh introduced it on July 30, 2026.
Key provisions raise the maximum imprisonment for examination‑fraud offences to ten years and increase the individual fine to Rs 50 lakh. The amendment creates special fast‑track courts that must deliver verdicts within three months and mandates that investigations be completed within two months. It also expands penalties for organised crime, including fines up to Rs 10 crore.
The changes follow the 2024 anti‑paper‑leak law, under which 52 FIRs have been filed and suicide rates linked to paper leaks have reportedly declined. The legislation sparked heated exchanges in Parliament, with opposition figures such as Rahul Gandhi criticizing the government’s approach while the ruling side defended it as essential to protect students’ futures.
Entities: Dharmendra Pradhan · India · Indian Parliament · Jitendra Singh · Lok Sabha · National Testing Agency (NTA) · Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill 2026 · Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 · Rahul Gandhi · Rajya Sabha · Special Fast Track Courts
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 4 SOURCES] Investigations of paper‑leak cases must be completed within two months. (Bill text)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Union Minister Jitendra Singh introduced the amendment in the Rajya Sabha on 30 July 2026. (Parliamentary record)
- [● 4 SOURCES] The amendment raises maximum imprisonment for exam‑fraud offences to ten years. (Bill text)
- [● 4 SOURCES] The amendment increases the maximum fine for individuals to Rs 50 lakh. (Bill text)
- [● 6 SOURCES] Since the 2024 anti‑paper leak law came into force, 52 FIRs have been filed. (Government data)
- [● 4 SOURCES] The Lok Sabha passed the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026. (Lok Sabha records)
- [● 4 SOURCES] The amendment creates special fast‑track courts to complete trials within three months. (Bill text)
- [● 5 SOURCES] Suicide incidents linked to paper leaks have declined after the 2024 law. (Government data)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Union Minister of State Jitendra Singh introduced the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 in the Rajya Sabha on July 30, 2026. (f6d678ab-7e4d-4d69-b679-bbca58f81f8c)