Amid paper leak row, Centre notifies law to curb irregularities but it won’t be retrospective

Opposition parties have also alleged irregularities in the medical entrance exam NEET-UG, the results of which were announced by NTA on 4 June.

“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. This means the law will not be retrospective and the current cases of paper leak and exam manipulation won’t be tried under the new legislation.

The notification of the Act comes just a day after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan was asked when the legislation would be implemented. The minister had said the law ministry was framing the rules.

Also Read: CBI registered FIR into UGC-NET paper leak case

The Act

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

The Act aims to prevent unfair means in the public examinations conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), the Staff Selection Commission (SSC), the railways, banking recruitment examinations and the National Testing Agency (NTA) among others.

It has provisions for a minimum of three to five years of imprisonment to curb cheating and those involved in organised crimes of cheating will face five to 10 years of imprisonment and a minimum fine of ₹1 crore.

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.

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