Lok Sabha passes tougher anti-paper leak Bill amid Opposition protest

Spread the news

New Delhi, July 29

The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed a bill to strengthen India’s anti-paper leak law, introducing tougher penalties including up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to ₹50 lakh, as the government sought to reassure millions of students that public examinations would be better protected from fraud.
The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill was passed on Wednesday despite protests by opposition parties, who continued raising concerns over the police response to demonstrations by students during the recent NEET controversy.

Presenting the legislation, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said the government had acted quickly following the NEET paper leak case and had remained willing to improve the law based on experience. While addressing the members of the parliament, the minister said that total 52 FIRs had been registered since the original anti-paper leak law came into force in 2024. He said that the proposed amendments reflected the government’s readiness to strengthen legal safeguards against examination fraud.

The minister also said incidents of suicides linked to paper leak cases had declined in recent years, describing the amendment as part of broader efforts to restore confidence in India’s examination system. During his speech, Singh criticised Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of lacking an understanding of parliamentary procedures and the functioning of government.
The amendment bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on July 27, days after nationwide protests over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination. The students protests had intensified political pressure on the government and were followed by the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.