The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024 was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Monday, February 5. The Bill is aimed at addressing cheating in various public examinations, including UPSC, SSC, Railways, NEET, JEE, and CUET. 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.
The porposed Bill will not target students. It will act against organised gangs, mafia elements and those indulging in malpractices and it will not even spare government officials found in collusion with them.
The bill primarily aims to deter such nefarious elements. The objective of the bill is to bring in greater transparency, fairness and credibility to the public examination systems and to reassure the youth that their sincere and genuine efforts will be fairly rewarded and their future is safe.
Addressing a joint sitting of Parliament at the beginning of the Budget session on January 31, President Droupadi Murmu said the government is aware of the concerns of the youth regarding irregularities in examinations. "Therefore, it has been decided to enact a new law to deal sternly with such malpractices."
Exam paper leak has become a nationwide problem. Some states like Gujarat have brought their own laws to deal with the menace.
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 were among others cancelled in 2023 following question paper leaks.
First Published: Feb 5, 2024 12:45 PM IST
