Following the massive protests and rigging in NEET-UG 2026, the central government will introduce the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha on Monday. Its objective is to make strict laws to stop paper leaks and ensure speedy justice.
New Delhi [भारत]July 25 (ANI): In the backdrop of huge political turmoil, protests across the country and the recent resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, the Central government is set to introduce the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha on Monday. Union Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh will seek permission to introduce this bill. Following the large-scale irregularities in the NEET-UG 2026 examination, seven key amendments have been included in the bill, which are aimed at plugging enforcement loopholes, setting up a dedicated judicial machinery and expediting criminal trials.
The legal action comes after the ongoing monsoon session of Parliament, which began on July 20, was completely marred by chaos as opposition parties and student groups continued to put pressure on the Center over the paper leak. The proposed legislation seeks to set strict timelines for both investigations and judicial proceedings, making significant changes to the original 2024 framework.
Main provisions of the bill
State Governments and Union Territory Administrations will be empowered to designate Sessions Courts as special fast-track courts which will exclusively try offenses under this Act. Proceedings in special fast-track courts will be conducted on a day-to-day basis, and it will be mandatory to conclude the trial within three months from the date of filing of the charge sheet. The Center will continue to have the authority to constitute a dedicated Special Task Force to deal with high-level or inter-state examination fraud. Investigation of offenses under the Act has to be completed within two months to prevent procedural delays. State Governments and Union Territory Administrations will have the power to appoint special legal advisors exclusively to prosecute cases of examination malpractice. The imprisonment period has been increased and heavy financial penalties have been provided for individuals, coaching centers and service providers found guilty of organized paper leaks.
Why did the amendment bill have to be brought?
This amendment bill is being introduced after weeks of intense unrest in the capital. The 37-day-long protest led by the chauvinist Janata Party (CJP) and activist Sonam Wangchuk ended in the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and several rounds of high-level talks with Union ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh. Though the CJP has formally announced to withdraw its protest at Jantar Mantar in “goodwill” after reaching an agreement with the Centre, all eyes are now on Parliament.
The passage of the 2026 Amendment Bill will be a crucial test for the Center as it seeks to restore institutional credibility, secure the future of competitive exam candidates and rebuild public confidence in the national testing agencies. (ANI)
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