The central government has implemented the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, effective from June 21. This act is designed to curb unfair practices in public examinations and common entrance tests nationwide, following widespread controversy over alleged misconduct in the administration of the NEET and UGC NET exams.
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The legislation, informally known as the Anti Paper Leak Law, aims to address the rampant issues of paper leaks and cheating that have plagued public examinations across India. The law introduces severe punishments to ensure transparency, fairness, and credibility in the examination process.
Objectives and Provisions of the Anti Paper Leak Law
The primary objective of the Act is to tackle cheating in government recruitment exams by introducing stringent measures. Here are the key provisions of the Anti Paper Leak Law:
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Key Provisions:
Jail Time:
- General Cheating Offenses: A minimum of three to five years of imprisonment.
- Organized Crime Penalties: For those involved in organized cheating crimes, including examination authorities or service providers, the punishment ranges from five to ten years of imprisonment.
Fines: A minimum fine of Rs 1 crore for organized cheating offenses.
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Scope of the Anti Paper Leak Law
The Anti Paper Leak Law covers a broad range of examinations, including those conducted by:
- Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
- Staff Selection Commission (SSC)
- Railways
- Banking recruitment examinations
- All computer-based examinations conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA)
Background and Implementation
The Act was passed in both Houses of Parliament during the Budget session, which concluded on February 10, 2024, and received presidential assent from President Droupadi Murmu on February 13, 2024. The implementation of this law follows significant controversies over alleged malpractices in the NEET and UGC NET examinations.
The Ministry of Health has emphasized that this law is a precautionary measure to maintain the integrity of public examinations, ensuring a fair and credible process for all candidates. The central government aims to conduct a thorough assessment of the examination processes to ensure their robustness and fairness, with new examination dates to be announced at the earliest.
This legislative move represents a significant step towards eradicating unfair practices and upholding the sanctity of public examinations in India.
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