1. Lok Sabha passes the Public Examinations Bill to combat malpractices.
2. The bill introduced by Union Minister Jitendra Singh exempts students from provisions.
3. Legislation aims to target individuals involved in exam irregularities.
New Delhi, Feb 07: The Lok Sabha has passed the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024, a legislative proposal aimed at curbing malpractices in public exams.
The bill, introduced by Union Minister of State Jitendra Singh, targets individuals involved in exam irregularities and exempts students and candidates from its provisions. Singh emphasized that the law aims to protect deserving candidates from injustice caused by such malpractices.
The move comes amidst instances of paper leaks in various competitive exams across states like West Bengal, Rajasthan, and Jammu and Kashmir, leading to the cancellation of several recruitment tests.
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The proposed legislation covers examinations conducted by prominent bodies such as the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Staff Selection Commission (SSC), Railway Recruitment Board (RRB), National Testing Agency (NTA), Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS), and central government departments.
Activities deemed unfair means under the bill include unauthorized access to question papers or answers, assisting candidates during exams, and tampering with computer networks or documents for merit lists. Penalties include fines of up to ₹1 crore and prison terms ranging from three to ten years, depending on the severity of the offense.
While acknowledging suggestions for expedited re-examinations, Singh stated that investigations into irregularities could delay the process. However, he assured that re-exams would be conducted as promptly as possible.
Opposition leaders expressed concerns about the bill, citing potential encroachment of state powers by the central government. They also called for stronger provisions to protect the interests of SC/ST students and urged the government to address a broader range of malpractices not covered in the legislation.
Supriya Sule of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) sought clarification on the implementation of the penalty system and urged the government to devise a robust process to ensure fairness in exams.
