Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill

Notes

• The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, received Presidential assent to strengthen the 2024 Act.
• Key objective: Curb exam malpractices through time-bound investigations and speedy trials.
• Investigation timeline: Must be completed within 60 days by police, central agencies, or Special Task Forces.
• Trial timeline: Must be concluded within three months of chargesheet filing in designated special fast-track courts.
• Appeals: High Court appeals must be heard by a two-judge Division Bench and resolved within three months.
• Penalties: General offences now carry 5-10 years imprisonment and up to ₹50 lakh fine.
• Service providers: Fines increased to ₹5 crore and debarment period extended to 8 years.
• Organised crime: Minimum imprisonment increased to 7 years and fines up to ₹10 crore.
• Procedural changes: Courts restricted from granting adjournments beyond the following day without exceptional reasons.
• Implementation challenges: Existing fast-track courts face massive pendency and systemic bottlenecks like staff shortages and witness non-attendance.
• Legislative critique: PRS Legislative Research notes the absence of accountability mechanisms for missing the 60-day investigation deadline.
• Judicial context: Supreme Court (2002) held that prescribing rigid outer limits for criminal proceedings is not always judicially permissible.

Part of a longer story

This is day 33 of 84 in NEET-UG and National Examination Integrity Controversy, which has been running since 21 June 2026. Reading it whole is usually worth more than reading today alone — the exam asks how something developed.

• Academic criticism of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's remarks Before
• NEET-PG examination reforms After
• The whole story 84 entries