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Parliament cleared the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 after Rajya Sabha approval followed Lok Sabha passage; it now awaits Presidential assent to become law.
The Bill sharply raises penalties: individual offences now carry 5-10 years' imprisonment (up from 3-5) and fines up to ₹50 lakh (up from ₹10 lakh); organised crime offences carry a minimum 7 years and fines up to ₹10 crore.
It gives statutory backing to Special Fast Track Courts (to be set up initially in the four High Courts handling NEET-related cases), with investigations capped at 2 months and trials at 3 months.
The amendment follows the May 2026 NEET-UG paper leak controversy, which exposed weaknesses in the original Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.
| Offence Category | 2024 Act | 2026 Amendment |
|---|---|---|
| Individual unfair means | 3-5 yrs, fine up to ₹10 lakh | 5-10 yrs, fine up to ₹50 lakh |
| Service provider complicity | Fine up to ₹1 crore, 4-yr ban | Fine up to ₹5 crore, 8-yr ban |
| Organised crime (minimum) | 3 yrs, ₹1 crore fine | 5 yrs, ₹5 crore fine |
| Gravest organised offences | 5-10 yrs, ₹1 crore fine | Min. 7 yrs, ₹10 crore fine |
GS Paper II > Governance, Examination Reforms
Static GK > Recent Bills & Acts
With reference to the Parliament of India, consider the following statements: 1. A private member's bill is a bill presented by a Member of Parliament who is not elected but only nominated by the President of India. 2. Recently, a private member's bill has been passed in the Parliament of India for the first time in its history. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: Neither 1 nor 2
Which of the following Indian Acts was passed in the year 2005?
Answer: The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act
A special court designated for speedy trial and disposal of specific categories of cases