Stricter anti-paper leak Bill moves Lok Sabha, sparking clash with Opposition

The Treasury and Opposition benches clashed in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday during the discussion of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026. While the government hailed it as “milestone” legislation showing resolve to safeguard the future of students, the Opposition described it as an “admission of failure” regarding previous anti-paper leak laws.

Key Provisions of the Bill Initiating the discussion, Union Minister Jitendra Singh stated that the Bill seeks to strengthen the 2024 anti-paper leak law to make it more stringent. Key provisions include:

• Stricter punishment of up to 10 years imprisonment and a fine of up to ₹50 lakh.
• Establishment of Special Fast Track Courts specifically for examination-related offences.
• Timelines requiring investigations to be completed within two months and trials within three months from the date a chargesheet is filed.
• Empowering the Centre to refer investigations of organised examination crimes to a Special Task Force.

Mr. Singh said the steps to establish these courts have already initiated, asserting the amendments would reinforce deterrence.

Opposition Arguments Leading the debate for the Opposition, Congress deputy leader Gaurav Gogoi questioned why major amendments were needed just two years after the 2024 law was hailed as “historic.” He labeled the Bill a “cosmetic exercise” that reflected the previous law’s failure following the earlier NEET-UG controversy.

Gogoi argued that harsher punishments alone would not end the menace without structural reforms in the education system. He further:

• Alleged that 44 of the 45 accused in the 2024 NEET-UG case had secured bail.
• Questioned the status of the former ISRO Chairman K. Radhakrishnan-headed committee’s recommendations.
• Raised doubts regarding National Testing Agency (NTA) officials and questioned faith in the NTA chairman.

Government Response Responding for the government, BJP member Bansuri Swaraj termed the amendment “transformative” and accused the Opposition of “selective outrage,” noting that paper leaks had occurred during the UPA government’s tenure. BJP MP Anurag Thakur also hit out at Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi regarding his dharna outside the Prime Minister’s residence.