Anti Paper Leak Bill 2026 Minister of State for the Prime Minister’s Office Jitendra Singh introduced the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha. Seeking to overhaul the existing 2024 antipaper leak framework following weeks of nationwide student agitations over competitive examination leaks, the draft legislation sharply increases penalties for offenders. The introduction took place amid loud Opposition sloganeering demanding parliamentary scrutiny over alleged police action during recent student demonstrations in New Delhi.
Anti Paper Leak Bill 2026 – Key Penalties Up to 10 Years Imprisonment and ₹10 Crore Fine
The proposed amendment significantly strengthens punitive measures against exam paper leak networks and malpractices. For individuals engaging in unfair means—including leaking question papers, tampering with OMR sheets, or creating fake admit card portals—the Bill elevates jail sentences from 3–5 years to a range of 5 to 10 years, alongside fines up to ₹50 lakh. For organized paper leak syndicates and exam rackets, the draft law establishes a mandatory minimum 7-year imprisonment, extendable further, with financial penalties reaching up to ₹10 crore.
Anti Paper Leak Bill 2026 – Mandatory Two-Month Probe Deadline and Fast-Track Special Courts
Beyond stiffer sentences, the Bill introduces structural time limits to ensure speedy justice and prevent procedural delays. Under the proposed provisions, law enforcement agencies must complete all investigations into paper leak offenses within two months. Furthermore, state governments and Union Territory administrations are empowered to designate Session Courts as special fast-track courts, mandated to conduct day-to-day trials and deliver final verdicts within three months of chargesheet filings.
Anti Paper Leak Bill 2026 – Special Task Force and Parliamentary Resistance
The legislation also empowers the Central Government to constitute a dedicated Special Task Force to handle complex or multi-state examination fraud cases. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju appealed to Opposition members to participate in the scheduled floor debate, emphasizing that the reforms directly respond to student demands. However, proceedings faced multiple adjournments as Opposition MPs continued to raise objections regarding police conduct during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led protests.
