The Union Minister of State, Dr Jitendra Singh, on Monday, February 5, introduced The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024 in the Lok Sabha. The Bill is aimed at preventing leaks and malpractices in recruitment examinations like UPSC and SSC and entrance tests including NEET, JEE and CUET.
The Bill proposes a punishment of a minimum of 3-5 years of imprisonment to curb cheating. It also proposes 5- 10 years of imprisonment and a minimum fine of ₹1 crore for those involved in organised crime of cheating.
The Bill aims to identify and deal sternly with organised gangs, mafias and institutions who indulge in unfair practices for monetary gains.
The Bill will also cover entrance examinations held by the Union Public Service Commission, the Staff Selection Commission, the Railways, banking recruitment examinations and other computer-based examinations conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA).
In recent years, the unfair practices in examinations had jeopardised the future and careers of millions of students due to cancellation of tests and examinations, the minister revealed.
“In many instances, it has been observed that organised groups and mafia elements are involved. They deploy solver gangs, impersonation methods and indulge in paper leaks. The Bill primarily aims to deter such kind of nefarious elements,” Singh said.
This Bill will not help the candidates but will also target the government officials, if found involved in malpractices.
The government has also proposed a high level national technical committee on public examinations that will make recommendations to make the computerised exams insulated.
The committee shall also look into developing protocol for insulating digital platforms, devising ways and means for developing foolproof IT security system, ensuring comprehensive electronic surveillance of the examinations centres and formulating national standards and service levels for both, IT and physical infrastructure, to be deployed for the conduct of such examinations.
