The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 through a voice vote. The Bill introduces tougher provisions to tackle paper leaks and examination fraud across the country. Under the amended law, offenders can face up to ten years of imprisonment and a fine of Rs 50 lakh. Organized paper leak syndicates may attract penalties of up to Rs 10 crore. Union Minister Jitendra Singh introduced the Bill on July 27, saying stronger legal measures were necessary to protect the integrity of public examinations. The legislation will now move to the Rajya Sabha for further approval. The House adjourned for the day soon after passing the Bill.
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Lok Sabha Clears Anti-Paper Leak Bill by Voice Vote
The Bill cleared the Lok Sabha amid noisy protests and a walkout by Opposition parties following a heated debate. Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi alleged that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had authorized the use of force against students during protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. Gandhi claimed security personnel acted harshly against demonstrators and questioned the government’s handling of the agitation. His remarks triggered strong protests from the Treasury benches. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju demanded evidence to support the allegations, while Speaker Om Birla reminded members that serious accusations made in Parliament should be backed by facts. Despite repeated disruptions, the House completed the legislative business and approved the Bill by voice vote.
Replying to the debate, Union Minister Jitendra Singh rejected Rahul Gandhi’s allegations and described them as factually incorrect. He stated that authorities never ordered police to open fire during the protests. According to Singh, police used only tear gas to control the crowd, and no bullets were fired. He also clarified that only a magistrate has the authority to issue an order to open fire, not the police. Singh further dismissed Gandhi’s claim regarding Amit Shah’s alleged convoy of thirty vehicles. BJP-led NDA members also criticized the Opposition for making unverified allegations during the debate and defended the government’s response to the student protests.
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Government Rejects Allegations on Student Protest Action
The amended legislation also introduces several reforms to strengthen the investigation and prosecution of paper leak cases. The government plans to establish fast-track courts in every state to hear such cases exclusively. Investigating agencies must complete inquiries within two months to ensure speedy justice. The government believes these measures will improve accountability and discourage organized examination fraud. Ministers argued that stricter punishments, faster investigations, and dedicated courts would protect honest students and restore public confidence in competitive examinations. Supporters of the Bill described it as a major reform aimed at improving transparency and maintaining the credibility of India’s examination system.
The government introduced the Bill after nationwide protests over the alleged NEET paper leak. The demonstrations continued for more than a month and gained momentum after activist Sonam Wangchuk joined an indefinite hunger strike. Tensions escalated when police stopped protesters marching toward Parliament, leading to allegations of excessive force. Delhi Police denied claims that pellet guns were used against students, while the CRPF has not publicly responded to allegations involving the Rapid Action Force. The protests ended after the government accepted several key demands of the demonstrators, including the resignation of former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The anti-paper leak Bill now marks another significant step in the government’s efforts to reform the country’s examination system.
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