Experts Question Fresh Exam Bill Despite PM’s Promise; Academics Say Tougher Paper Leak Law Alone Won’t End Exam Fraud

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement of a new law with stricter punishments for exam paper leaks has sparked debate among education experts, with several academics arguing that stronger penalties alone will not eliminate examination fraud. They have instead called for comprehensive reforms in the National Testing Agency (NTA), the coaching industry, and India's examination system.

The proposed Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 comes amid nationwide concern over the NEET 2026 paper leak and follows weeks of student protests demanding greater transparency and accountability in public examinations.

Existing Law Already Prescribes Strict Punishment

The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, enacted by Parliament ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, already provides stringent penalties for examination fraud. The law prescribes three to ten years of imprisonment and fines of up to ₹1 crore for those involved in paper leak cases.

However, despite multiple examination controversies since the Act came into force, critics point out that no convictions have yet been secured under the legislation, raising questions about enforcement rather than the absence of legal provisions.

Following the NEET paper leak in July 2024, Prime Minister Modi had assured Parliament that the government was strengthening the examination system and that those compromising students' futures would face strict action.

Addressing the issue again amid the NEET 2026 controversy, the Prime Minister announced that the government has approved a draft amendment proposing even tougher punishment, including up to 10 years' imprisonment and fines of up to ₹10 crore for organised examination fraud. He also said that fast-track courts would be established to ensure quicker disposal of such cases.

Academics Seek Structural Reforms

Education experts, however, argue that legislative changes alone cannot address the root causes of recurring paper leaks.

Professor Anita Rampal, former Dean of the Faculty of Education at Delhi University, said meaningful reform requires addressing the broader examination ecosystem rather than merely increasing punishments.

According to Rampal, preliminary investigations into paper leak cases have pointed to alleged collusion involving elements within testing centres and the coaching industry. She stressed the need for stronger regulation of coaching institutes and called for a review of the highly centralised examination model.

Rampal also criticised the heavy reliance on multiple-choice question (MCQ)-based national entrance examinations, arguing that such systems encourage organised malpractice while limiting opportunities to assess students' analytical and creative abilities. She further questioned the functioning of the National Testing Agency (NTA), stating that greater institutional accountability and academic autonomy are essential for restoring public confidence.

Questions Over Enforcement

Professor Rajeev Kumar, a retired faculty member from IIT Kharagpur's Department of Computer Science, questioned the necessity of introducing a tougher law when the existing legislation has not yet resulted in convictions.

Referring to recent developments in the 2024 NEET paper leak investigation, he argued that the effectiveness of any legal framework ultimately depends on successful investigation, prosecution, and punishment rather than increasing statutory penalties.

"The issue is not simply whether laws are strict enough, but whether they are effectively implemented," he observed.

Debate on Examination Reforms Intensifies

The government's proposed amendment is expected to be introduced in Parliament during the ongoing session. The legislation seeks to impose harsher penalties for organised examination fraud, including imprisonment of up to 10 years and financial penalties reaching ₹10 crore for large-scale paper leak networks.

While many education experts support stronger action against organised cheating syndicates, they argue that long-term solutions require systemic reforms, including improved governance of examination agencies, greater transparency, tighter regulation of coaching centres, secure examination processes, and stronger accountability mechanisms.

As debate over the NEET paper leak continues, the proposed legislation has reignited a broader national conversation on balancing stricter legal deterrence with comprehensive reforms needed to restore trust in India's public examination system.