Parliament Passes Public Examinations Amendment Bill, 2026

The Lok Sabha passed the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, by voice vote on 29 July 2026. The Bill amends the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, which applies to public examinations conducted by bodies such as the Union Public Service Commission, Staff Selection Commission, Railway Recruitment Boards, Institute of Banking Personnel Selection, and National Testing Agency.

Public Examinations Law in India

The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, is a central law for preventing paper leaks, impersonation, and other examination malpractices in public recruitment and entrance tests. The Act covers examinations notified by central recruitment and testing bodies that conduct large-scale competitive examinations across India.

Penalty Provisions Under the Amendment

The amendment increases the punishment for individuals found guilty of using unfair means in public examinations. The jail term has been raised from three to five years to five to ten years, and the maximum fine has been increased from ₹10 lakh to ₹50 lakh. Organised examination fraud attracts a minimum jail term of seven years under the amended framework. Service providers involved in such offences face fines of up to ₹5 crore and debarment from conducting public examinations for eight years.

Procedural Changes in Investigation and Trial

The Bill provides for Special Fast-Track Courts in every State and Union Territory. It also prescribes a two-month deadline for investigation and a three-month period for trial after filing of the chargesheet. These provisions place examination-related offences within a time-bound criminal procedure framework. The Bill links investigation, chargesheet filing, and trial to fixed timelines in cases involving public examinations.

Important Facts for Exams

• The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, is a central law related to examination integrity.
• The Union Public Service Commission and the Staff Selection Commission are among the bodies covered by the Act.
• The National Testing Agency conducts several national-level entrance examinations in India.
• Voice vote is a parliamentary method in which members express approval or disapproval verbally.

Parliamentary Context

The Bill was passed after debates in the Lok Sabha on 29 July 2026. The amendment was introduced in the context of concerns over paper leaks and examination fraud in large public recruitment and entrance examinations.