The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 was passed by voice vote in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, July 29. (Sansad TV/ANI Video Grab)
The government’s tougher anti-paper leak Bill cleared the Lok Sabha on Wednesday after the House gave its assent to the legislation by a voice vote. The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 sets a two-month deadline to complete the investigation into paper leak cases. It has increased the punishment for individuals involved in unfair means, including paper leaks, from three to five years in the 2024 Act to five to 10 years. The fine, earlier set at Rs 10 lakh, has been hiked to Rs 50 lakh. If the crime is found to be organised, the Bill proposes a minimum sentence of seven years and a fine of up to Rs 10 crore. In the draft legislation, 15 illegal acts, including leaking question papers, tampering with OMR sheets, creating fake websites and issuing fake admit cards, have been listed as offences.
Rahul Gandhi hits out at Shah: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s remarks against Home Minister Amit Shah have been expunged. Addressing media, Gandhi said, “I have simply asked a question. There can only be two possibilities. Either the Home Minister ordered the firing, or he was unaware that the firing was taking place. In the first case, he is culpable. In the second, he is incompetent. There cannot be a third possibility. If the Home Minister did not know that firing was taking place, it means he is incompetent… That is the only point I am making. It is a matter of simple logic. Also, he has not come to the House. Why is he not coming? He is supposedly the brave Home Minister of India. If he did not issue any order, then he should come and clarify that he did not. In any case, the larger issue is that I have the right to speak in Parliament, and I should be allowed to exercise that right.”
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On Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation as the Education Minister, Gandhi said that it was “superficial” and that the soul of the system is captured by the RSS. He also lashed out at Home Minister Amit Shah and alleged that he authorised the use of pellet guns on protestors. Gandhi’s remarks were met with protest from the government.
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