The upper house of the Indian Parliament, the Rajya Sabha, approved a bill on Thursday that provides for stricter penalties for the distribution of examination materials. This decision was made against the backdrop of mass youth protests demanding comprehensive reforms, which led to the resignation of the country's education minister.
The new legislation establishes a doubling of the maximum prison sentence for those involved in exam leaks—up to ten years—and also increases the maximum fine to an amount exceeding one million dollars.
Legislators passed this act by a vote after several hours of discussion, just one day after the lower house of Parliament adopted a similar bill. This law must now be signed by President Droupadi Murmu.
The strengthening of penalties occurred after weeks of mass demonstrations related to exam material leaks and other violations. These protests culminated in the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday. The protests, spearheaded by the online movement Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), garnered widespread student support across the country and posed a serious challenge to the Modi government.
Despite repeated attempts by the government to curb leaks, this issue remains persistent at both the national and state levels. Specifically, on Tuesday, the Federal Investigation Agency of India charged 13 individuals in connection with the leak of an entrance test for a medical college earlier this year, which became one of the factors fueling the youth unrest.
Demonstrations against material leaks in New Delhi on July 20 turned violent when large crowds attempted to march to the Parliament. Police used tear gas and batons to disperse protesters, provoking clashes and a wave of arrests.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi published a new video address on Thursday after Parliament adopted an amendment to the Public Examinations Act (Prevention of Cheating Methods) of 2026. He called this step significant in building a more reliable examination system and combating organized criminal groups involved in material leaks.
'The future of children will not be compromised,' Modi stated in his address, emphasizing the importance of the adopted legislation for ensuring the fairness of the educational process.
The bill to prevent the leakage of examination materials was passed in the Rajya Sabha after its approval in the Lok Sabha. The discussion on this bill in the Rajya Sabha lasted about seven hours before it was passed by unanimous vote. The government minister, Dr. Jitendra Singh, responded to the opposition's criticism.
Dr. Jitendra Singh refuted the opposition's claims, stating that the term 'paper leak' is not present in the name of this law. He clarified that the official name of the document is Prevention of Unfair Means (PUM). The minister emphasized that this problem affects every family in the country. He noted that when Prime Minister Modi speaks of a 'Developed India 2047', children are a significant investment.
Singh denied the opposition leader's statements regarding 152 leaks, noting that he could not confirm this. He presented statistics concerning MIS, medical colleges, and the increase in seats. Additionally, he reported that the Prime Minister abolished management quotas, making medical education accessible to all. Furthermore, under the National Education Policy 2020, students have greater freedom in subject selection, which has contributed to the growth of opportunities in higher education. Exalvia schools for indigenous people were also opened in various parts of the country, totaling 400 such schools.
Dr. Singh explained that this law applies not only to NTA but also to SSC, UPSC, and bank examinations. He also discussed measures taken in cybersecurity. Regarding the recommendations of the Radhakrishnan Committee, 37 out of 46 main suggestions have been implemented. The minister pointed out that most leak incidents occurred at the state level, not at the NTA level. He welcomed the suggestions related to greater transparency in the coaching industry and stated that a dedicated group has been formed under Nandan Nilekani for this purpose.
Despite some opposition members, including John Britas, AA Rahim, Harish Birana, and Santosh Kumar P, submitting notices regarding changes to certain provisions, they were absent during the voting. Proposals for amendments were put forward by P. Wilson and Tiruchi Shiva, but they did not pass. The bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha by a unanimous vote. Since it was already passed in the Lok Sabha, it is just one step away from coming into force: after being signed by the President and the notification published, it will become law.
During the discussion, opposition figures, from opposition leader Mallikarjun Kharge to Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh of the AAP party, questioned the government's intentions regarding leak prevention. Professor Manoj Kumar Jha from RJD stated that cosmetic reforms would not work and that the source of the problem, which he believes is NTA, needs to be addressed. Sanjay Singh of AAP expressed doubt about the government's confidence in conducting leak-free examinations.
Rajya Sabha Opposition Whip Pramod Tiwari reported that all opposition members raised the same issue. When the topic turned to crime and batons, opposition MPs staged an exit from the hall, chanting slogans like 'Home Minister, enter the hall, enter the hall'. In response, the faction leader Jeppi Natta commented that the opposition had become meaningless, stating that they themselves confirmed they had no topics for discussion. He added that the ruling party is ready to discuss any issues, unlike the opposition, which leaves during the answer.
