Anti Paper Leak Bill 2026 | Delhi/Hyderabad, July 29 (Maxim News) : The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the Anti Paper Leak Bill 2026 by a voice vote amid protests and disruptions by Opposition members.
The legislation seeks to further strengthen legal provisions against examination malpractices, paper leaks, and organized fraud in public examinations. Following the passage of the Bill, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla adjourned the House till Wednesday.
During the debate, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said the Centre had acted swiftly in the NEET paper leak case and was committed to protecting the integrity of India’s examination system.
He informed the House that 52 FIRs had been registered since the implementation of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, citing official government data.
The minister also said the strict enforcement of the existing law had significantly reduced student suicides linked to paper leak incidents in recent years.
He described the decline as evidence of the law’s positive impact while emphasizing the need for stronger safeguards through the new legislation.
The Bill was passed despite repeated protests by Opposition members following remarks exchanged between Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Earlier, the House witnessed a heated debate, with Opposition MPs arguing that merely introducing stricter laws would not solve the problem unless systemic flaws in the examination process were addressed.
In response, the government maintained that the amendments would strengthen transparency, accountability, and security in the conduct of examinations.
Anti Paper Leak Bill 2026 | Stricter Punishments and Faster Investigation
The Anti Paper Leak Bill 2026 introduces significantly tougher penalties for those involved in examination fraud.
The minimum imprisonment for individuals, organized gangs, and officials involved in paper leaks has been increased from five years to ten years. The legislation also provides for fines of up to ₹50 lakh for individuals found guilty of such offences.
Private agencies and organizations conducting examinations can face penalties of up to ₹5 crore, besides being required to reimburse the entire cost incurred in conducting the affected examination if they are found responsible for malpractice.
The Bill further mandates that central investigating agencies and designated special task forces complete investigations into paper leak cases within two months.
To ensure speedy justice, such cases will be tried in newly designated Special Fast Track Courts, where hearings will be conducted on a day-to-day basis.
The legislation also empowers the Central Government to constitute a Special Task Force to investigate large-scale examination frauds that extend across multiple states.
Additionally, the debarment period for examination agencies found guilty of malpractice has been doubled from four years to eight years.
The Centre said the strengthened law comes in the wake of controversies surrounding competitive examinations, including NEET-UG, and nationwide student protests demanding greater transparency and accountability.
The government described the legislation as a major step towards safeguarding students’ futures and restoring public confidence in India’s examination system.(Maxim News)
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