Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh Introduces Public Examinations Amendment Bill in Lok Sabha

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh introduced the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha on July 27, 2026, proposing a stricter legal framework for national recruitment and entrance tests (PIB). The legislation seeks to amend the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, which was enacted to curb malpractice in examinations conducted by designated authorities including the Union Public Service Commission, Staff Selection Commission, Railway Recruitment Boards, Institute of Banking Personnel Selection, National Testing Agency, central government ministries and their attached offices, and other notified bodies (PRS India).

The amendment arrives months after the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) 2026 was cancelled in May following an alleged paper leak, forcing a re-examination the following month (PRS India). NEET serves as the entrance examination for undergraduate medical education programs. The Statement of Objects and Reasons attached to the Bill states that the changes aim to strengthen fairness, enhance the credibility of the public examination system, and facilitate time-bound investigation and speedy trial (PRS India).

The Bill significantly enhances punitive measures. It increases the quantum of imprisonment and fines for various offences under the Act. The period of debarment for service providers found engaging in unfair means is doubled from four years to eight years, barring them from being assigned any responsibility for the conduct of public examinations (PRS India).

On the investigative side, the Bill empowers the central government to constitute a Special Task Force to investigate offences, supplementing the existing provision that allows the referral of cases to any central investigating agency. It also mandates that investigations must be completed within two months (PRS India).

For adjudication, the legislation requires every state and Union Territory to designate a Court of Session as a Special Fast Track Court to try offences under the Act. These courts will also try connected offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, or other laws in the same trial. States and UTs must appoint one or more special public prosecutors for each such court, and all pending cases under the Act will stand transferred to these designated courts (PRS India).

The Bill imposes strict timelines on the judicial process. Trials must be conducted on a day-to-day basis until all witnesses in attendance have been examined, with adjournments beyond the following day permitted only after recording reasons in writing. Trials must conclude within three months from the date of filing the chargesheet; for transferred pending cases, the three-month clock starts from the date of transfer (PRS India).

Appellate procedures are also restructured. Appeals against judgments, sentences, or orders of the Special Fast Track Courts will lie before a bench of two Judges of the High Court and must be disposed of, as far as possible, within three months from admission. Appeals against orders granting or refusing bail will also go to the High Court. Appeals must be filed within 30 days of the order, with the High Court permitted to condone delay for sufficient cause, though no appeal may be entertained after 90 days (PRS India).