JEE Advanced, JAM may come under stricter anti-cheating law after NEET-UG paper leak fallout

New Delhi: Amid strong focus on exam-linked reforms, discussions have started regarding the inclusion of tests such as JEE Advanced and JAM - administered by autonomous institutes like IITs - within the ambit of the stringent Public Exam (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Act, 2026, ET has learnt.

As of now JEE Advanced, GATE, JAM and CEED are under the jurisdiction of the IITs and IISc. The possible implications of including them in the new Act are being debated, it is learnt.

While bringing them under the purview of the new Act is considered desirable for creating higher deterrence against those involved in paper leaks, the possible implications on the autonomy of institutes of national importance, and the sanctity of the exams conducted by them, have led to much discussion within the IIT-IISc community, ET has learnt.


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Some quarters are concerned about the long-term effects on students' careers if they are caught in misconduct, especially as penalties under the recently amended Act have become stricter following the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak and subsequent cancellation.

The new Act has increased the quantum of imprisonment and fines. For instance, a person/student caught indulging in 'unfair means' in any exam may now face imprisonment for 5-10 years and a penalty of up to ₹50 lakh.

The purpose of the Act is to prevent unfair means in public examinations conducted by specified authorities and applies to six categories of exams - those conducted by the Union Public Service Commission, National Testing Agency, Staff Selection Commission, Railway Recruitment Boards, Institute of Banking Personnel Selection and the ministries or departments of the central government and their attached and subordinate offices. The Act also provides to cover exams conducted by any other authority that the Centre may notify.

While JEE Main, conducted by NTA, automatically comes under the Act, that is not the case with the much-coveted JEE Advanced, which determines admissions to IITs. JEE Advanced is conducted by IITs on a rotational basis under the guidance of the Joint Admission Board. JEE Advanced apart, IITs hold other competitive exams too.