Government Enacts Public Examinations Act 2024: Measures Against Exam Malpractices

As an important measure to address exam-related issues such as paper leaks and delayed results, the government launched the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Measures) Act, 2024. This law, which will come into effect on June 21, 2024, contains strict requirements. measures against paper leakage especially in cases like NEET and NET in big tests.

Key Provisions of the Act:

Severe Punishment: Those found guilty of leaking exam papers or forging answer sheets face a minimum imprisonment of three years which may extend to five years and a fine of up to 10 lakh. Organized cheating in government recruitment exams is punishable with imprisonment of up to five years and a fine of up to 1 crore.

Comprehensive coverage: The law covers several crimes such as leaking exam papers, hacking computer systems, creating fake websites for financial gain and manipulating exam arrangements

The provision aims to restore transparency, fairness and credibility in public examinations across the country, affecting important examinations like UPSC, SSC, RRB, NTA and IBPS.

The President approved the bill on February 13 after Parliament passed it during the February 6 budget session.

The approval of this law underlines the commitment of the government to maintain the integrity of public examinations and ensure equal opportunities for all candidates.

Expected Impact of the Act

The Public Examinations Act is expected to have a positive impact on the conduct of public examinations in India. Here's a table (not shown here, but you can imagine a table with two columns) summarizing the expected outcomes:

Area	Expected Outcome
Deterrence	Stricter penalties should deter individuals from engaging in exam malpractices.
Transparency	Increased focus on security measures can improve transparency in the examination process.
Public Trust	Upholding fairness in exams can rebuild public trust in the selection process.

Also Read: NEET Result 2024 Controversy: Live Updates on Paper Leak and Result Scam

Frequently Asked Questions

Ques. What is the Public Examinations Act, of 2024?

Ans. The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 is a legislation brought out by the Government of India for deterring malpractices and cheating in the country's public examinations.

Ques. What types of exams does the Act cover?

Ans. The Act applies to an enormously wide range of public examinations, including entrance examinations conducted by any Government body or the authorities notified under the Act, which includes entrance exams like NEET and UGC NET recruitment examinations conducted by UPSC and SSC, etc., and board examinations conducted by CBSE and State Boards.

Ques. What are considered unfair means under the Act?

Ans. The Act has expressly defined various types of cheating as unfair means; leakage of question paper or answer key, carrying unauthorized material in examination hall, getting help from others, Impersonation and tampering with an answer sheet/OMR sheet.

Ques. What are the penalties for unfair means under the Act?

Ans. The Act provides for more severe penalties than earlier directives. The penal provisions are imprisonment between 3 to 10 years, in addition to a heavy fine.

Ques. Does the Act apply to students appearing for exams?

Ans. No, the Act protects the students. The bona fide candidates shall not be prosecuted under the Act, and the unfair means policies of the examining body, as applied in that examination, shall solely govern such matters.