Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026
Background
Existing law: The Bill seeks to amend the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.
Reason for amendment: Introduced following repeated paper leak incidents, including the cancellation and re-conduct of NEET 2026.
Prelims Pointers
Objective: To strengthen fairness, enhance the credibility of the public examination system, and ensure time-bound investigation and speedy trial of offences related to public examinations.
Public examinations covered: The Act applies to examinations conducted by:
- Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
- Staff Selection Commission (SSC)
- Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs)
- Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS)
- National Testing Agency (NTA)
- Ministries of the Central Government and their attached offices
- Other authorities notified by the Central Government.
Major Amendments
- Higher punishment for individuals: Imprisonment increased from 3–5 years to 5–10 years, and the maximum fine increased from ₹10 lakh to ₹50 lakh.
- Higher penalty for service providers: Maximum fine increased from ₹1 crore to ₹5 crore.
- Persons in charge of service providers: Minimum imprisonment increased from 3 years to 5 years, and the fine increased from ₹1 crore to ₹5 crore.
- Organised crime: Minimum imprisonment increased from 5 years to 7 years, while the minimum fine increased from ₹1 crore to ₹10 crore.
Investigation & Trial
- Special Task Force: Empowers the Central Government to constitute a Special Task Force to investigate offences under the Act.
- Time-bound investigation: Investigation must be completed within two months.
- Special Fast Track Courts: Every State and Union Territory must designate a Court of Session as a Special Fast Track Court for offences under the Act.
- Special Public Prosecutors: Every State and UT shall appoint one or more Special Public Prosecutors for these courts.
- Transfer of pending cases: All pending cases under the Act shall stand transferred to the Special Fast Track Courts.
- Time-bound trial: Trial should proceed on a day-to-day basis and be completed within three months from filing of the chargesheet.
- Appeals: Appeals shall lie before a Division Bench (two Judges) of the High Court, preferably to be disposed of within three months. Appeals must be filed within 30 days; delay may be condoned only up to 90 days.
UPSC Prelims Question
Q. With reference to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, consider the following statements:
- It empowers the Central Government to constitute a Special Task Force to investigate offences under the Act.
- It requires every State and Union Territory to designate a Court of Session as a Special Fast Track Court for offences under the Act.
- It mandates that every appeal against the judgment of a Special Fast Track Court shall be heard by a single Judge of the High Court.
- It increases the minimum fine for organised examination fraud from ₹1 crore to ₹10 crore.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- (a) 1, 2 and 4 only
- (b) 1 and 3 only
- (c) 2 and 4 only
- (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: A. 1, 2 and 4 only
Explanation
Statement 1 – Correct: The Bill empowers the Central Government to constitute a Special Task Force for investigation.
Statement 2 – Correct: Every State and UT must designate a Court of Session as a Special Fast Track Court.
Statement 3 – Incorrect: Appeals lie before a Bench of two Judges (Division Bench) of the High Court, not a single Judge.
Statement 4 – Correct: The minimum fine for organised crime is increased from ₹1 crore to ₹10 crore.
