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Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh introduced the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha, to strengthen the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 with fast-tracked investigation, Special Fast Track Courts, Special Public Prosecutors and stricter penalties.
For individuals: minimum imprisonment raised from 3 to 5 years (max up to 10 years, from 5); maximum fine raised from ₹10 lakh to ₹50 lakh.
For service providers: maximum fine raised from ₹1 crore to ₹5 crore; debarment period from conducting exams extended from 4 to 8 years. For organised crime: minimum imprisonment raised from 5 to 7 years; maximum fine raised from ₹1 crore to ₹10 crore.
New Section 12A mandates investigation completion within 2 months and trial completion within 3 months of chargesheet filing, before Special Fast Track Courts; new Section 12B allows appeal to the High Court within 30 days, to be disposed of within 3 months.
The Bill also empowers the Central Government to refer investigation to a Special Task Force.
Conducts national entrance/eligibility examinations (e.g. NEET-UG, UGC-NET, CUET)
Recruits staff for Group B and C posts in central government ministries/departments
Conducts recruitment examinations for public sector banks and RRBs
Parent Act; national framework criminalising unfair means (paper leaks, impersonation, tampering) in public examinations, covering UPSC, SSC, RRBs, IBPS, NTA and notified Central authorities
Introduced in Lok Sabha by Dr. Jitendra Singh; enhances penalties, inserts Sections 12A (fast-tracked investigation/trial via Special Fast Track Courts) and 12B (time-bound High Court appeal), and allows referral to a Special Task Force
The Bill designates existing Courts of Session as Special Fast Track Courts dedicated to day-to-day trial of offences under the Act, each with a Special Public Prosecutor appointed for it, aiming to complete trial within 3 months of chargesheet filing. This mirrors the 'Special Court' model already used under laws like the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 — designating a Sessions Court, rather than creating a wholly new court structure, to speed up trials in a specific offence category.
Simple Analogy: It is like a dedicated fast lane on an existing highway (the Sessions Court), reserved and time-bound, rather than building an entirely new road.
GS Paper 2 > Polity > Statutory Bodies & Government Policies for Vulnerable Sections/Examination Reform
New (2026); the parent 2024 Act was itself a high-frequency 2024 current-affairs topic post NEET-UG paper leak controversy
An offence where police can arrest without a warrant (cognizable), bail is not a matter of right (non-bailable), and the case cannot be privately settled/withdrawn by the parties (non-compoundable) — the classification given to all offences under the 2024 Act
A prosecutor specially appointed for each Special Fast Track Court to conduct trials under the Act, as proposed by new Section 12A