The Centre made a significant move in the Lok Sabha by presenting a crucial bill aimed at curbing leaks, malpractices, and organized cheating in various recruitment and entrance examinations across the country. Titled “The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024,” the legislation targets malpractices in exams conducted by prominent bodies such as UPSC, SSC, NEET, JEE, and CUET.
The bill was introduced in the house by Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, and MoS PMO (Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy, and Space). It seeks to impose stringent penalties to deter cheating and organized malpractices in these examinations.
Under the proposed legislation, individuals found guilty of cheating could face imprisonment ranging from three to five years, while those involved in organized cheating could be sentenced to five to ten years of imprisonment along with a minimum fine of Rs 1 crore. The bill specifically targets organized gangs and institutions that engage in unfair means for monetary gains, with provisions to safeguard candidates from its punitive measures.
Addressing the pressing need for such legislation, Dr Jitendra Singh highlighted the detrimental impact of exam leaks and cheating on the aspirations of millions of students across the country. He emphasized the bill’s focus on deterring nefarious elements, including organized groups and mafia, which deploy fraudulent methods such as solver gangs and paper leaks.
Currently, there is no specific national law to address unfair means in public examinations conducted by central government agencies. Dr. Jitendra Singh stressed the urgency of enacting comprehensive legislation to combat the exploitation of vulnerabilities in the examination system, safeguarding the future of sincere and genuine aspirants.
The primary objective of the bill, according to Dr. Jitendra Singh, is to enhance transparency, fairness, and credibility in public examination systems, reassuring youths that their efforts will be duly recognized and rewarded. Importantly, the legislation ensures that candidates appearing for examinations are not subjected to punitive measures and will be governed by the existing unfair means policy of the examination conducting authority.
Recognizing the increasing role of technology in examinations, Dr Jitendra Singh announced the establishment of a High-level National Technical Committee on Public Examinations. This committee will focus on developing protocols to secure digital platforms, ensuring foolproof IT security systems, and formulating national standards for conducting examinations.
The introduction of this bill marks a significant step towards safeguarding the integrity of public examinations and restoring trust in the examination process. It reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring a fair and merit-based selection process for all aspirants.
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