THE Government on Monday introduced a bill in Lok Sabha to penalise “malpractices in public examinations” with a jail term of 3 to 10 years and a fine which can extend to over Rs 1 crore.

The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024, is applicable to central recruitment and entrance exams conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Staff Selection Commission (SSC), Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs), Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS), and National Testing Agency (NTA). Apart from these designated public examination authorities, all central ministries and departments, as well as their offices for recruitment, will also come under the purview of the new law when passed.

The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024, introduced by Union Minister Jitendra Singh comes in the aftermath of the cancellation of a series of competitive exams including the teacher recruitment exam in Rajasthan, Common Eligibility Test (CET) for Group-D posts in Haryana, recruitment exam for junior clerks in Gujarat and constable recruitment examination in Bihar, following question paper leaks.

Objectives of the Bill:

The Bill seeks to act against organized gangs, mafia elements, and those indulging in malpractices, without targeting students. Government officials found guilty will also not be spared.
Constitution of a high-level national technical committee on public examinations that will make recommendations to make the computerized examination process more secure.
The committee will develop protocols for insulating digital platforms, devise ways and means for developing fool proof IT security systems, ensure electronic surveillance of examination centers, and formulate national standards and services for both IT and physical infrastructure to be deployed for conduct of competitive examinations.
Deter nefarious elements from using impersonation methods and indulging in paper leaks and other malpractices.