Bill seeks 10 years' jail, Rs 1 crore fine for cheating in public exams

The Central government introduced a bill in Lok Sabha on Tuesday aimed at curbing paper leaks and malpractices in recruitment examinations and entrance tests like UPSC, SSC, NEET, JEE, and CUET. The Bill titled "The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024" was presented by Union minister Dr Jitendra Singh.

The proposed legislation suggests a minimum of three to five years of imprisonment for cheating, while those involved in organised cheating will face five to 10 years of imprisonment and a minimum fine of Rs 1 crore. Dr Singh emphasised that the bill targets organised gangs and institutions engaging in unfair practices for financial gains while safeguarding candidates from its provisions.

He highlighted the necessity of the bill by citing instances where question paper leaks and organised cheating have adversely affected a large number of students.