Amid NEET, UGC-NET Row, Centre Notifies New Law Against Paper Leak | 5 Points

New Delhi: Amid the ongoing controversy regarding NEET and the CBI probe into the UGC-NET examination, the central government has operationalised a stringent law that aims to curb malpractices and irregularities in competitive examinations.

The central government on Friday, June 21, notified the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024. This comes nearly four months after President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent. The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions on Friday night issued a gazette notification saying the provisions of the law will come into force from June 21.

"In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 1 of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 (1 of 2024), the Central Government hereby appoints the 21st day of June, 2024, as the date on which the provisions of the said Act shall come into force," reads the notification issued by the Personnel Ministry.

On Thursday, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan was asked when will the legislation, which was passed by the Parliament in February this year, be implemented. To this, the minister had said the law ministry was framing the rules.

What is Anti-Paper Leak Law?

The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024, was passed by the Rajya Sabha on February 9. The Lok Sabha passed it on February 6. President Murmu gave approval to the bill on February 12, turning it into a law.

Before this legislation, there was no specific substantive law to deal with unfair means adopted or offences committed by various entities involved in the conduct of public examinations by the central government and its agencies.

The Act is aimed at preventing organised gangs and institutions that are involved in unfair means for monetary gains and protects candidates from its provisions, Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh had said, as quoted by PTI.

5 Points To Know

1. This is the first such law which aims to curb malpractices in competitive examinations. All offences under the act are cognisable, non-bailable, and non-compoundable.
2. The Act aims to prevent unfair means in the public examinations. 
3.As per the law, public examinations refer to the ones conducted by central authorities like the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), the Staff Selection Commission (SSC), the railways, banking recruitment examinations and the National Testing Agency (NTA) among others.
4. The law introduces stringent punishment and hefty fines. The ones involved in cheating will face imprisonment of minimum of three to five years, while those involved in organised crimes of cheating will face five to 10 years of imprisonment and a minimum fine of Rs 1 crore.
5. The new law prohibits disclosing exam-related confidential information before time, and unauthorised people from entering exam centres to create disruptions.

(With inputs from agencies)