President Murmu Approves Anti-Paper Leak Law

President Droupadi Murmu has given her assent to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, which aims to prevent unfair means in public examinations. The law empowers states to set up fast-track courts for speedy trials of accused and enhances punishment in public examination question paper leak cases.

The law ministry issued a gazette notification on Friday, stating that President Murmu has given her assent to the bill after it was cleared by both Houses of Parliament earlier this week. The bill was passed in Parliament on July 31, 2026, and received the President's assent the next day.

According to the legislation, individuals involved in paper leaks or unfair means in exams will face jail terms of a minimum of five years and a maximum of 10 years, and a fine of up to Rs 50 lakh. For organised crimes, the amended law proposes a minimum sentence of seven years and a fine of up to Rs 10 crore.

The government pushed for an early passage of the bill amid massive protests by students against the NEET 2026 paper leak. The new law amends a two-year-old Act by enhancing fines and imposing stricter punishments on paper leak convicts.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised the law and fast-track courts amid the recent student protests. The law outlines 15 illegal acts, including leaking question papers, tampering with OMR sheets, creating fake websites, and issuing fake admit cards.

The 2024 law was brought in when the government faced raging paper leak controversies. Before the 2024 legislation, there was no specific substantive law to deal with unfair means adopted or offences committed by various entities involved in the conduct of public examinations by the Central government and its agencies.

Under the amended law, all states and Union Territories will be directed to set up fast-track courts, which will complete the trial within three months of filing of the chargesheet. Investigations into paper leak cases are to be completed within two months.

The new law is expected to prevent unfair means in public examinations conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), the Staff Selection Commission (SSC), the Railways, banking recruitment examinations, and the National Testing Agency (NTA), among others.

The government's move to introduce the new law is seen as a step towards ensuring the integrity of public examinations and preventing paper leaks. The law is expected to have a significant impact on the education sector and will help to maintain the trust of students and parents in the examination system.

In recent times, there have been several instances of paper leaks, which have led to widespread protests and demands for stricter action against those involved. The new law is expected to address these concerns and provide a more effective mechanism for dealing with paper leaks and unfair means in public examinations.

Overall, the introduction of the new law is a significant development in the education sector, and it is expected to have a positive impact on the conduct of public examinations in the country.

The government's decision to set up fast-track courts is also seen as a step towards ensuring speedy justice in cases related to paper leaks. The fast-track courts will help to complete the trial within a shorter period, which will help to prevent delays and ensure that those involved in paper leaks are punished promptly.

In conclusion, the new law is a significant step towards preventing unfair means in public examinations and ensuring the integrity of the examination system. The government's move to introduce the law and set up fast-track courts is expected to have a positive impact on the education sector and will help to maintain the trust of students and parents in the examination system.