NEET paper leak row: What Centre's new anti-paper leak bill proposes and why it matters

Centre will introduce the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 in Parliament on Monday, proposing significantly tougher penalties for examination fraud, stricter action against service providers engaged by examination authorities, and time-bound investigation and trial of paper leak cases as it seeks to further strengthen the anti-paper leak law amid ongoing protests over the alleged NEET examination leak.

The proposed legislation amends the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, which was enacted to curb unfair practices in public examinations and deter organised cheating networks.

Also read: Anti-paper leak Bill proposes tougher action against exam centres, agencies & institutions


According to the Statement of Objects and Reasons accompanying the bill, the amendments have been prompted by "some incidents of question paper leakages and malpractices" in recent years that have undermined the transparency and credibility of public examinations.

Tougher punishments for those involved in exam fraud

The most significant change proposed by the bill is a sharp increase in penalties for those found guilty of offences under the Act.

At present, individuals convicted under the law face imprisonment ranging from three to five years and a fine of up to ₹10 lakh. The amendment raises the minimum jail term to five years and allows courts to impose imprisonment of up to 10 years. The maximum fine has also been increased five-fold to ₹50 lakh.

The bill also substantially tightens provisions for service providers—private agencies or firms hired by examination authorities for activities such as conducting examinations, printing papers, handling logistics or providing technological support.

If such a service provider is found responsible for offences under the Act, the maximum financial penalty would rise from ₹1 crore to ₹5 crore. The period during which the agency can be barred from participating in public examinations would also double from four years to eight years.

In cases where an investigation establishes the involvement or connivance of a company's directors, senior management or persons in charge, the bill proposes increasing the minimum imprisonment from three years to five years. The fine in such cases would also rise from ₹1 crore to ₹5 crore.

For organised examination-related crimes involving individuals, institutions, examination authorities or service providers, the proposed amendments increase the minimum jail term from five years to seven years, while raising the minimum fine from ₹1 crore to ₹10 crore.

Also read: Dharmendra Pradhan resigns: Education Minister sends resignation letter to PM Modi amid CJP protests due to NEET paper leak

Faster investigations and dedicated courts

Besides enhancing punishments, the bill seeks to ensure that paper leak cases are investigated and decided much more quickly than before.

It mandates that investigations by police officers, central investigating agencies or a Special Task Force—where one is constituted by the Centre—must be completed within two months. To facilitate this, the bill also empowers the Central government to constitute a Special Task Force specifically for investigating offences under the Act, in addition to referring cases to a central investigating agency.

The legislation also requires every state government and Union Territory administration, in consultation with the concerned High Court, to designate a Special Fast Track Court to exclusively hear offences under the Act. These courts would conduct day-to-day proceedings and complete trials within three months of the filing of the chargesheet. Existing cases pending under the law would automatically be transferred to these designated courts.

Appeals and prosecution

The bill also introduces a dedicated appellate mechanism. Judgments, sentences or orders of Special Fast Track Courts can be challenged before a bench of two judges of the High Court. As far as possible, such appeals are to be disposed of within three months of their admission. Appeals against bail orders would also lie before the High Court.

To support speedy prosecution, every state and Union Territory would be required to appoint one or more Special Public Prosecutors to conduct cases under the Act before the designated fast-track courts.

Why Centre wants to amend the law

The Statement of Objects and Reasons says the amendments are intended to strengthen the fairness, transparency and credibility of India's public examination system by introducing stricter punishments, time-bound investigations, speedy trials and a dedicated appeal mechanism.

The proposed changes come against the backdrop of repeated allegations of question paper leaks and examination malpractice in recent years, with the Centre arguing that a stronger legal framework is necessary to deter organised fraud and restore public confidence in high-stakes examinations.