Breaking News: Government to Table Tougher Anti-Paper Leak Bill with Harsher Jail Terms and Higher Fines

The Central Government is set to introduce a major amendment to the anti-paper leak law in the Lok Sabha, proposing significantly stricter penalties to curb examination fraud and strengthen the integrity of competitive exams. Union Minister Jitendra Singh is expected to table the amendment bill, with the government aiming to begin discussions and, if parliamentary proceedings permit, seek its passage during the ongoing session. The proposed legislation introduces tougher punishments for individuals and organized groups involved in examination paper leaks. Under the amendment, the prison term for individual offenders is proposed to increase from the existing three to five years to a stricter five to ten years. The maximum financial penalty is also set to rise substantially, from ₹10 lakh to as much as ₹50 lakh. For organized examination fraud, the proposed law seeks even stronger action. The revised provisions include prison terms of seven to ten years and a sharp increase in the maximum fine from ₹1 crore to ₹10 crore. The government believes these enhanced penalties will act as a strong deterrent against organized networks involved in leaking examination papers. Another significant reform proposed in the bill is the introduction of a fixed timeline for legal proceedings. Unlike the current law, which does not specify a time limit for trials, the amendment aims to ensure that cases related to paper leaks are concluded within three months, enabling faster justice and improving accountability. The proposed amendments are part of the government’s broader examination reform agenda, aimed at restoring confidence in recruitment and entrance examinations through stricter enforcement, faster prosecution, and enhanced legal safeguards.

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