Lok Sabha: Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026
UPSC / SSC current affairs note · Polity
Why in news
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh introduced the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 in Lok Sabha on 27 July 2026. The Bill seeks to strengthen the existing 2024 Act by introducing faster investigations, special fast-track courts, stricter penalties, and higher fines to curb organised malpractices in public examinations.
Background
The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 was enacted on 12 February 2024 and came into effect on 21 June 2024. It provided a comprehensive national legal framework to prevent unfair means in public examinations conducted by bodies like UPSC, SSC, RRB, IBPS, NTA, and central government ministries. Recent incidents of question paper leaks and organised malpractices necessitated further amendments.
Key facts
The Bill proposes to increase minimum imprisonment from 3 to 5 years and maximum from 5 to 10 years for individuals using unfair means.
Maximum fine for individuals is increased from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 50 lakh.
For service providers involved in offences, maximum fine is raised from Rs 1 crore to Rs 5 crore, and the prohibition period from conducting public exams is extended from 4 to 8 years.
Managerial personnel of service providers face minimum 5 years and maximum 10 years imprisonment, with fine up to Rs 5 crore (increased from Rs 1 crore).
For organised exam crimes, minimum imprisonment is raised from 5 to 7 years (maximum 10 years), and maximum fine from Rs 1 crore to Rs 10 crore.
A new Section 12A mandates completion of investigation within 2 months, daily hearings in special fast-track courts (designated Sessions Courts), and trial completion within 3 months of charge sheet filing.
Special Public Prosecutors will be appointed for each fast-track court.
A new Section 12B allows appeals to the High Court within 30 days, to be disposed of preferably within 3 months.
The central government may entrust investigation to a Special Task Force constituted for the purpose.
The Bill amends the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.
Prelims pointers
- Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026
- Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 (enacted 12 Feb 2024, effective 21 Jun 2024)
- Covers exams by UPSC, SSC, RRB, IBPS, NTA, central ministries/departments
- Special Fast-Track Courts (Sessions Courts designated)
- Special Public Prosecutors
- Special Task Force for investigation
- Minimum imprisonment: 5 years (individuals), 7 years (organised crimes)
- Maximum fine: Rs 50 lakh (individuals), Rs 10 crore (organised crimes)
- Appeal to High Court within 30 days
Mains angles
- GS2: Government policies and interventions for transparency and accountability in public examinations
- GS2: Role of judiciary and fast-track courts in ensuring speedy justice
- GS3: Challenges of organised crime in examination systems and measures to prevent unfair means
- GS2: Parliamentary procedures – introduction and passage of amendment bills