Bill to curb malpractices in exams passed in Parliament

Parliament on Friday passed a bill that aims to curb malpractices and irregularities in competitive examinations, and entails provisions for a maximum jail term of 10 years and a fine up to Rs 1 crore for offences.

The bill was passed through a voice vote in the Rajya Sabha, after amendments proposed by some opposition members were rejected. The bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on February 6.

Replying to a discussion on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024 in the Rajya Sabha, Union minister Jitendra Singh said the youth power of the country is "vital" and asserted that the bill is meant to deter those who are playing with their future.

He asserted that merit cannot allowed to be hijacked by non-merit.

"We can't allow vital youth power of this country to be surrendered or sacrificed in the hands of a handful few...Very cautiously, we have kept the bona fide candidate out of purview of the law, be it a job aspirant or a student. So the message does not go that this new legislation is meant to harass the youth of this country. It is only meant to deter those who are playing with their future, and thereby the future of the nation," Singh, the Union Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions said.

"I am sure the entire House, in one voice, will support this (bill).... It is a dynamic journey we have started," Singh said.

The bill seeks to deal sternly with malpractices and irregularities in competitive examinations with provisions for a maximum jail term of 10 years and a fine up to Rs 1 crore.

The bill also proposes a high-level national technical committee on public examinations that will make recommendations to make the computerised examination process more secure. 

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