Against the backdrop of nationwide protests over alleged examination irregularities and the recent resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, the Central Government is set to introduce the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha on Monday.
Union Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh, will seek leave to introduce the Bill, which proposes seven key amendments aimed at strengthening the legal framework to curb examination malpractices, expedite investigations and ensure speedy trials.
The proposed legislation seeks to address enforcement gaps in the existing 2024 Act by introducing strict timelines for investigation and judicial proceedings.
Among the major provisions, state governments and Union Territory administrations will be empowered to designate Courts of Session as Special Fast-Track Courts exclusively for cases related to examination fraud. These courts will be required to conduct day-to-day hearings and complete trials within three months from the filing of the charge sheet.
The Bill also empowers the Centre to constitute a Special Task Force (STF) to investigate major or inter-state examination fraud cases. Investigating agencies will be required to complete probes within two months to prevent procedural delays.
In addition, state governments and UT administrations will be authorised to appoint specialised public prosecutors for cases under the Act, while stricter punishments, including enhanced prison terms and higher financial penalties, have been proposed for individuals, coaching centres and service providers found guilty of organised paper leaks.
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The move comes after weeks of political turmoil and widespread student protests over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG 2026 examination. The issue also led to the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The amendment Bill follows a 37-day protest at Jantar Mantar led by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) and activist Sonam Wangchuk. The agitation was withdrawn after negotiations with Union Ministers J.P. Nadda and Dr. Jitendra Singh, during which the Centre assured protesters that their concerns would be addressed.
The proposed legislation is expected to be a key test for the government as it seeks to strengthen the integrity of the public examination system, enhance accountability, and restore confidence in national testing agencies.
