Government Strengthens Anti-Cheating Measures with New Public Examinations Act
In a bid to combat rampant malpractices in public examinations, such as the recent controversies surrounding the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC NET), the central government has enacted the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.
Robust Punishment for Cheating
The new law imposes stringent penalties for cheating in public examinations and common entrance tests held across the country. Individuals caught violating these provisions will face a minimum of three to five years of imprisonment, while those involved in organized cheating crimes will be sentenced to five to 10 years behind bars. Additionally, they will be subjected to a hefty fine of at least Rs 1 crore.
Targeting Organized Cheating Offenses
Recognizing the prevalence of organized cheating networks, the Act specifically targets such criminal activities. If an examination authority, service provider, or any other institution is found to be complicit in organized paper leak crimes, they will face severe consequences, including imprisonment for a period between five and ten years and a minimum fine of Rs 1 crore.
Protection for Candidates
The law exempts candidates appearing in examinations from these punitive provisions, as they will continue to be subject to the existing unfair means policies of the examination conducting authorities.
Broad Scope of Application
The Act covers a wide range of examinations, including those conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Staff Selection Commission, Railways, banking recruitment examinations, and computer-based exams administered by the National Testing Agency (NTA).
Property Forfeiture and Financial Recovery
In cases where an institution is found to be involved in organized paper leak crimes, the law provides for the attachment and forfeiture of their property. Additionally, the proportionate cost of the examination shall be recovered from the institution.
This comprehensive legislation aims to curb the menace of cheating and ensure the integrity of public examinations and common entrance tests, thereby safeguarding the fairness and credibility of these crucial assessments.
