Amid NEET, UGC-NET Row, Centre Notifies Anti-Paper Leak Law To Prevent Use Of Unfair Means In Examinations

The Centre notified the anti-paper leak law for examinations for central recruitment and entrance into central educational institutions.

NEET Row: Amid the row over the alleged malpractices in the conduct of NEET and UGC NET examinations, the Central government notified the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, on Friday. It is an anti-paper leak law for examinations for central recruitment and entrance into central educational institutions.

The act aims to curb the use of unfair means in public examinations and common entrance tests held across the country.

A gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions said, "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".

Anti-Paper Leak Law

The bill got clearance from the two houses of Parliament in February earlier this year. It proposes a high-level national technical committee on public examinations that will make recommendations to make the computerised examination process more secure.

The bill seeks to ensure greater transparency, fairness, and credibility in the public examination systems and to reassure the candidates that their efforts will be fairly rewarded and their future is secure.

NEET Exam Row

NEET-UG is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) every year. This year it took place at 4,750 centres in 571 cities in which more than 24 lakh aspirants participated. The results were declared on June 4.

However, immediately after the results were announced, students raised allegations of irregularities when 67 students achieved top scores, amidst claims of question paper leaks in Bihar. There have been allegations of question paper leaks in states such as Bihar and other irregularities in the exam.

The allegations have led to protests in several cities and the filing of petitions in several high courts as well as the Supreme Court.

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