Bill Addressing Exam Malpractices Expected In Parliament On Feb 5

The Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024 may make its debut on Monday.

The bill also proposes the formation of a high-level national technical committee.

New Delhi: The government is expected to introduce a fresh bill in Parliament next week to address firmly the issue of malpractices and irregularities in competitive examinations, proposing a maximum jail term of 10 years and a fine up to Rs 1 crore, as reported by news agency PTI. According to sources, the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024 may make its debut on Monday, pending a final decision. The bill recently received clearance from the Union cabinet.

Reports suggest that students will not be the primary focus of the proposed legislation. Instead, it aims to target organized gangs, mafia elements, and individuals engaging in malpractices, including government officials found complicit. This move comes in response to a string of competitive test cancellations due to question paper leaks, such as the teacher recruitment exam in Rajasthan, the Common Eligibility Test (CET) for Group-D posts in Haryana, junior clerk recruitment exam in Gujarat, and constable recruitment examination in Bihar.

The bill also proposes the formation of a high-level national technical committee on public examinations tasked with enhancing the security of computerized examination processes. This committee will focus on developing protocols to safeguard digital platforms, devising foolproof IT security systems, implementing electronic surveillance at examination centers, and establishing national standards and services for both IT and physical infrastructure.

Instances of organised groups and mafia elements resorting to solver gangs, impersonation, and paper leaks have been observed, prompting the bill to target such nefarious activities. Its primary objective is to instill greater transparency, fairness, and credibility in public examination systems, assuring youth that their genuine efforts will be duly recognized and their futures secured.

During the joint sitting of Parliament at the outset of the Budget session, President Droupadi Murmu addressed the concerns of youth regarding examination irregularities.

"Therefore, it has been decided to enact a new law to deal sternly with such malpractices," she said.