# India's anti‑paper leak law receives presidential assent > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/india-exam-fraud-legislation-debate > Updated: 2026-08-01T08:45:07.000Z. Sources: 45. Developments: 4. On 31 July 2026 the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 cleared both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, completing parliamentary approval of India’s first comprehensive anti‑paper‑leak framework. The legislation introduced higher fines (up to ₹10 crore), a ten‑year maximum imprisonment, time‑bound investigations (within two months) and fast‑track courts (trials within three months), and created a technology‑driven task force chaired by Nandan Nilekani. BJP leaders praised the measure as historic and a fulfilment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s merit‑based agenda. The next day, 1 August 2026, President Droupadi Murmu gave formal assent, bringing the amendment into law. The act now obliges each state to set up fast‑track courts for paper‑leak cases, mandates investigations to conclude within two months, and expands coverage to exams conducted by the UPSC, SSC, Railways, banking recruitment bodies and the National Testing Agency. Penalties were refined: individuals face five to ten years’ imprisonment and fines up to ₹50 lakh, while organised crime rings can be sentenced to seven to ten years and fined up to ₹10 crore. The law follows the 2024 act, which recorded 52 FIRs and helped reduce exam‑related suicides, and responds to student protests over the NEET 2026 paper leak. ## Claims - Investigations of paper‑leak cases must be completed within two months. (corroborated by 19 sources) - The amendment increases the maximum fine for individuals to ₹50 lakh (about US $1 million). (corroborated by 18 sources) - The amendment raises the maximum imprisonment for exam‑fraud offences to ten years. (corroborated by 17 sources) - President Droupadi Murmu must give assent before the amendment becomes law. (corroborated by 13 sources) - The same Bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha on 30 July 2026. (corroborated by 9 sources) - The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 was passed by the Lok Sabha on 29 July 2026. (corroborated by 8 sources) - The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 was passed by both houses of India's Parliament. (corroborated by 7 sources) - Since the 2024 anti‑paper‑leak law came into force, 52 FIRs have been filed. (corroborated by 6 sources) - Union Minister of State Jitendra Singh introduced the amendment in the Rajya Sabha on 30 July 2026. (corroborated by 6 sources) - Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted a video message praising the Bill and warning that paper‑leak gangs will not be spared. (corroborated by 6 sources) - Suicide incidents linked to paper leaks have declined after the 2024 law. (corroborated by 5 sources) - The Lok Sabha passed the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 on July 29, 2026. (corroborated by 5 sources) - The bill introduces stricter punishments, including fines up to Rs 10 crore and enhanced imprisonment terms. (corroborated by 5 sources) - Youth‑led protests by the online Cockroach Janta Party forced Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to resign. (corroborated by 4 sources) - The legislation provides for special fast‑track courts and time‑bound investigations. (corroborated by 4 sources) - The legislation awaits presidential assent before becoming law. (corroborated by 4 sources) - The Rajya Sabha began debating the amendment on 30 July 2026. (corroborated by 3 sources) - BJP MP Raghav Chadha praised the bill as India's first comprehensive anti‑paper‑leak framework. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel welcomed the legislation, calling it historic. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Since the 2024 law, 52 FIRs have been registered related to examination malpractice. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the bill received majority support in Parliament. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-01: President Droupadi Murmu signs anti‑paper‑leak amendment bill President Droupadi Murmu assented to a bill that creates fast‑track courts and raises prison terms and fines for exam paper‑leak offenses across India. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/president-droupadi-murmu-signs-antipaperleak-amendment-bill ### 2026-07-31: India's Parliament Passes Anti‑Paper Leak Bill Strengthening Exam Security India’s Parliament approved the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, which adds heavy fines, fast‑track courts and a task force to curb exam paper leaks; the law awaits the P ‑ 16 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/india-passes-antipaper-leak-bill-to-curb-exam-fraud ### 2026-07-29: India's Parliament Passes Anti‑Paper Leak Bill Strengthening Exam Integrity India’s Parliament passed the 2026 amendment to tighten penalties for exam paper leaks, raising fines to ₹50 lakh, jail terms to 10 years, and adding fast‑track courts after student protests forced the Edu Min 36 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/indias-lok-sabha-passes-2026-amendment-tightening-exam-fraud-penalties ### 2026-07-29: India's Lok Sabha debate on Public Examination Amendment Bill ignites political clash Lok Sabha debate on the Public Examination Amendment Bill, 2026, sparked a row after MP Mahua Moitra’s “sarasa” remark, while activist Abhijit Dipake warned of bigger student protests if the law’s flaws aren’t‑ 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/indias-lok-sabha-debate-on-public-examination-amendment-bill-ignites-political-clash --- Cite as: India's anti‑paper leak law receives presidential assent. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/india-exam-fraud-legislation-debate