Overview
- Parliament approved amendments to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 that raise maximum jail terms to 10 years and allow fines up to Rs 10 crore and set up dedicated fast‑track courts in each state and union territory to speed trials.
- The legislative push followed more than a month of nationwide student protests over an alleged NEET paper leak that led to Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation and large demonstrations at Jantar Mantar.
- Opposition leaders led by Mallikarjun Kharge argued on July 30 that the law is a political response to calm students rather than a fix for recurring exam failures and called for structural reforms to bodies such as the National Testing Agency.
- Parliamentary sessions were repeatedly disrupted by Opposition walkouts and protests inside the House demanding answers about alleged police use of lathi‑charge, tear gas and pellet guns against student protesters and pressing Home Minister Amit Shah to explain the actions.
- Analysts and opposition MPs warn that higher penalties address punishment after leaks but do not prevent them, pointing to repeated past leaks, calls to decentralise exams and to conduct security audits as necessary next steps that will determine whether the crisis is solved or deferred.