What happened in the Lok Sabha debate
The Lok Sabha debated the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026. The government argued the amendment strengthens India’s anti-paper-leak framework introduced in 2024 by increasing consequences for unfair means, creating Special Fast Track Courts, tightening investigation and trial timelines, and enabling the Centre to direct investigations to a Special Task Force.
Government stated features included:
• Harsher penalties for paper-leak and unfair means offences, including up to 10 years’ imprisonment and fines up to ₹50 lakh.
• Special Fast Track Courts to speed up trial and disposal of cases.
• Tighter procedural timelines: investigations to be completed within two months after filing the charge-sheet, and trials to be completed within three months.
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