Parliament Passes Bill to Curb Exam Malpractices: Stringent Penalties Enforced

New Delhi: In a major move to ensure fairness and merit in competitive exams, Parliament approved a bill targeting malpractices in competitive examinations, emphasizing penalties of up to 10 years in prison and a fine reaching ₹1 crore for offenders. The legislation, titled the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024, was passed via a voice vote in the Rajya Sabha, following its prior approval by the Lok Sabha on February 6.

Union Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions, Jitendra Singh, underlined the critical role of the nation’s youth and stressed that the bill aims to safeguard their future from exploitation. He reiterated that merit must prevail over non-merit elements, expressing confidence in the bill’s widespread support across the political spectrum.

Singh clarified that the legislation spares genuine candidates, whether job seekers or students, from its purview, affirming its intent to deter those jeopardizing the nation’s future prospects. He urged unanimous backing from the House, framing the bill as a proactive step toward ensuring the integrity of public examinations.

Apart from imposing strict penalties, the bill also advocates for the establishment of a high-level national technical committee on public examinations. This committee is tasked with enhancing the security of computerized examination processes through comprehensive recommendations.