Government to present bill for tough penalties in public exams

The government is set to present the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024 on Monday. This bill is aimed at putting a stop to cheating and irregularities in major examinations. Jitendra Singh, the minister of state for personnel, public grievances, and pensions, will be introducing the draft legislation in the Lok Sabha. The key proposal is to impose a minimum of 3-5 years of imprisonment for those responsible for leaking exam papers, with the punishment escalating to 5-10 years for cases involving organized syndicates.

The focus of the draft law is to tackle cheating in various public exams, including those conducted by Union and state public service commissions, railways, and entrance exams for medical, engineering, and university programs. In case of any irregularities, the legislation suggests a fine of up to ₹1 crore for service provider firms conducting examinations. Such firms, if found guilty, will be prohibited from conducting public examinations for four years.

To investigate paper leaks, the draft legislation proposes that officers not below the rank of deputy superintendent of police or assistant commissioner of police handle the task. Additionally, the union government will have the authority to refer the investigation to any central agency.

The draft law identifies 20 offenses and unfair means, such as impersonation, manipulation of answer sheets, and tampering with documents for shortlisting or finalizing the merit or rank of a candidate. This comprehensive approach aims to address a range of malpractices in the examination system.

President Droupadi Murmu, in her address at the joint sitting of Parliament at the beginning of the budget session, acknowledged the concerns of the youth regarding irregularities in examinations. She emphasized that the central government is taking decisive steps to address these malpractices through the enactment of a new law.

The bill not only focuses on punitive measures but also envisions the establishment of a National Technical Committee on Public Examinations. This committee will play a crucial role in developing protocols to secure digital platforms, ensuring foolproof IT security systems, implementing electronic surveillance, and formulating national standards for infrastructure.

In terms of candidate protection, the draft law explicitly states that candidates won’t be held liable under its provisions but will remain covered by existing administrative regulations. This inclusion aims to reassure candidates and foster a sense of fairness and justice in the examination process.

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