10-Year Jail, Rs 10 Crore Fine: Anti-Paper Leak Bill Explained

The Centre is preparing a major overhaul of India's anti-paper leak framework, proposing tougher punishments, steeper financial penalties and a dedicated system of fast-track courts to deal with examination fraud cases.The proposed amendments to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 have been cleared by the Union Cabinet and are expected to be introduced in Parliament. While the core offences under the law will remain unchanged, the government is seeking to significantly strengthen enforcement amid repeated instances of question paper leaks and recruitment exam irregularities across the country.The move comes two years after Parliament enacted the country's first dedicated law targeting organised cheating, paper leaks and examination fraud in major public examinations.Jail Terms And Fines To Increase SharplyUnder the proposed amendments, individuals found guilty of paper leaks or examination fraud could face a minimum prison sentence of five years, up from three years under the existing law.