New Delhi: The central government has enacted a stringent law aimed at curbing malpractices and irregularities in competitive examinations. This new legislation includes provisions for a maximum jail term of 10 years and a fine of up to Rs 1 crore for offenders.
Nearly four months after President Droupadi Murmu approved The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, the Personnel Ministry issued a notification on Friday evening, stating that the provisions of the law will come into effect from June 21.
This move is particularly significant in the wake of a controversy surrounding the UGC-NET, 2024, exam’s question paper leak. On Thursday, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered a case to investigate the leak of the exam conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA).
Opposition parties have also raised concerns about irregularities in the NEET-UG medical entrance exam, the results of which were announced by the NTA on June 4.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 1 of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 (1 of 2024), the Central Government hereby appoints the 21st day of June, 2024, as the date on which the provisions of the said Act shall come into force,” the notification reads.
The notification was issued just a day after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan was asked about the implementation of the legislation. The minister stated that the law ministry was in the process of framing the necessary rules.
The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024, was passed by the Rajya Sabha on February 9 and by the Lok Sabha on February 6. President Murmu signed the bill into law on February 12.
The Act is designed to prevent unfair practices in public examinations conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), the Staff Selection Commission (SSC), the railways, banking recruitment examinations, and the National Testing Agency (NTA), among others.
The legislation includes provisions for a minimum imprisonment of three to five years for cheating, with those involved in organized cheating facing five to 10 years of imprisonment and a minimum fine of Rs 1 crore.
Prior to this legislation, there was no specific law addressing the unfair means or offenses committed by various entities involved in conducting public examinations by the central government and its agencies.
Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh stated that the Act aims to prevent organized gangs and institutions from using unfair means for monetary gains, while also protecting candidates from such malpractices.
