Government seeks longer jail terms and higher fines to restore confidence in public examinations
NEW DELHI: India’s government on Tuesday introduced legislation proposing stricter punishments for examination paper leaks, following weeks of nationwide protests that demanded education reforms and culminated in the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The proposed amendments, presented in parliament, would double the maximum prison sentence for individuals involved in examination paper leaks from five years to 10 years. In addition, offenders could face fines exceeding $1 million, while courts would be required to fast-track related cases.
Speaking in the lower house of parliament, senior minister Jitendra Singh said the changes reflected the government’s commitment to protecting students and strengthening the integrity of India’s examination system.
He added that the amendments were designed to make existing laws more stringent and restore public confidence in competitive examinations.
Legislation follows weeks of unrest
The proposal comes after widespread demonstrations over examination paper leaks and alleged irregularities across India’s education sector.
The protests, led by the student-driven Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) movement, attracted significant nationwide support and posed one of the biggest political challenges to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government in recent months.
Parliament’s monsoon session has also witnessed repeated disruptions, with opposition lawmakers demanding accountability over the police response to the demonstrations.
Meanwhile, India’s Supreme Court ordered the release of detained protesters under the age of 18 who have no prior criminal record.
Authorities aim to protect examination system
Examination paper leaks have repeatedly affected India’s highly competitive education system, where millions of students compete for limited university admissions and government jobs.
Authorities say organised criminal networks have exploited the intense demand for examination success by selling leaked question papers despite repeated enforcement measures.
Tensions escalated on July 20 when protests in New Delhi turned violent after demonstrators attempted to march towards parliament. Police responded with tear gas and baton charges, leading to clashes and numerous detentions.
The government says the proposed legal reforms are intended to deter future paper leaks, strengthen accountability and ensure greater transparency in national and state-level examinations.
