The Lok Sabha, on Wednesday, approved a bill to amend the anti-paper leak law with stricter punishment of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of ₹50 lakh, by voice vote, amid sloganeering by opposition parties.
The Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, with stricter punishment, was introduced in the House by Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Monday, days after the student protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party forced Dharmendra Pradhan to resign as the education minister.
The bill sets a deadline of two months to complete the probe into paper leak cases, and increases the punishment for people involved in such unfair means from five years to 10 years.
Speaking in Lok Sabha, Singh said the government acted swiftly in the NEET paper leak case, and as many as 52 FIRs have been lodged since the anti-paper leak law came into force in 2024.
The amendment bill indicates that the government is open to learning from experience, he said, noting that the rate of suicide related to paper leaks has also reduced over the last few years.
He criticised Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, stating that he lacks knowledge of parliamentary norms and the functioning of the government.
The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day after the bill was passed.
"The 2024 bill, which the Modi government has introduced, has now been further strengthened by these amendments. I want to remind the students of this country of two things. For the first time in the country's history, we now have a strong, dedicated anti-paper leak law," said BJP MP Tejasvi Surya.
He also hit out at Rahul Gandhi, saying the opposition leader, who tried to pose himself as a champion of students over the last two weeks, did not speak about student welfare, exam reforms or the education system in his speech in Parliament.
"Not a single sentence in the leader of the opposition's speech was regarding the education system, examination reforms, or anything to do with student welfare. The BJP government has walked the talk and has instituted long-term systemic reforms," he claimed.
