New Parliament Building, New Delhi. Photo: Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs / PIB (GODL-India)
India’s Union Cabinet cleared a bill on Friday proposing tougher punishment for examination paper leaks, shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the plan.
The bill amends the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, and raises the minimum prison term for paper-leak convictions from three to five years.
For organised paper leaks specifically, the bill proposes a jail term of up to 10 years along with a fine reaching Rs 10 crore.
The move follows widespread outrage over the 2024 NEET-UG and UGC-NET paper leaks, which had led to the enactment of the original Act.
Parliament is likely to take up the bill for consideration and passing on Monday.
(Image: Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs / PIB (GODL-India))
