President Droupadi Murmu has given her assent to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Act, 2026, bringing into force stricter punishments for those involved in paper leaks and examination fraud.

The legislation was approved shortly after being passed by Parliament and has now been published in the Official Gazette, making the amended provisions legally effective.

Jail Terms and Fines Increased

The amendment significantly strengthens penalties under the 2024 law.

Under the revised provisions:

• Imprisonment has been increased from 3–5 years to 5–10 years.
• The maximum fine has been raised from ₹10 lakh to ₹50 lakh.

The government said the tougher punishment is intended to deter organised examination fraud following repeated paper leak incidents affecting recruitment and entrance examinations across the country.

Government Defends Stronger Law

The government argued that repeated leaks in recruitment and entrance examinations over the past two years showed that the penalties under the 2024 law were not strong enough to prevent malpractice.

Officials said the amendment aims to strengthen the integrity, transparency, and credibility of public examinations conducted across India.

Read more: Telangana Bandh Over Alleged NEET Paper Leak Shuts Schools and Colleges Across State

Opposition Criticizes Passage of the Bill

Opposition parties questioned both the content of the legislation and the manner in which it was passed in the Lok Sabha.

The Bill was cleared by voice vote amid repeated disruptions in the House. Opposition members argued that there was insufficient debate on its provisions before it became law.

Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi also criticized the legislation, describing it as inadequate to address broader problems affecting India's education system.

Focus Remains on Exam Reforms

The amendment comes after widespread concerns over paper leaks in major recruitment and entrance examinations, including the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), which triggered protests by students and demands for stronger accountability.

The government maintains that the tougher law will help protect the fairness of public examinations and restore confidence among students and job applicants.