Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement that the Centre will introduce a new law with tougher punishment to curb examination paper leaks has been met with scepticism from education experts, who argue that stricter legislation alone is unlikely to address the deep-rooted issues behind recurring exam scandals.
The Prime Minister's latest assurance comes despite the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, which was enacted by Parliament in February last year and came into force four months later. The existing law already prescribes three to ten years' imprisonment and a fine of up to ₹1 crore for those involved in organised examination malpractices.
However, several paper leak cases have surfaced since the law came into effect, with no convictions reported so far under its provisions.
Following the NEET-UG 2024 paper leak controversy, Modi had told Parliament that the government was taking stringent steps to protect the future of students."The government is extremely serious about preventing such incidents... Those who play with the future of the youth will not be spared. The central government has already enacted a strict law," the Prime Minister had said in July 2024.
Amid fresh protests over the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, Modi on Friday reiterated the government's commitment to strengthening the legal framework."I have directed the setting up of fast-track courts. A bill has been prepared with stronger provision for imprisonment," he said.
Despite the renewed promise, several academics questioned whether amending the law would produce meaningful results without systemic reforms.
According a report by The Telegraph, Former Delhi University Faculty of Education Dean Prof. Anita Rampal said that merely increasing punishments would not eliminate organised examination fraud.
"The NTA ecosystem, including the network of coaching institutes and testing centres, as shown by preliminary investigations, are in cahoots with the culprits in getting papers leaked. The government needs to seriously regulate the coaching system," she emphasised.
Rampal also criticised the current examination model, arguing that highly centralised, multiple-choice entrance tests encourage organised corruption and undermine creativity. She further questioned the functioning of the National Testing Agency (NTA), saying it lacked accountability and should be dismantled.
Retired IIT Kharagpur professor Rajeev Kumar also questioned the need for another law when the existing legislation has yet to secure convictions.
"There have been many cases of paper leaks in the last two years. Has anybody been convicted under the existing law? When nobody is punished, what is the justification for bringing the law?" Kumar was quoted as saying by The Telegraph.
Meanwhile, according to a PTI report, the Union Cabinet has approved a draft amendment to the 2024 Act. The proposed legislation seeks to further tighten penalties by providing for up to 10 years' imprisonment and a maximum fine of ₹10 crore in cases involving organised paper leak rackets.
The proposed amendments come as the Centre faces mounting pressure to restore public confidence in the country's examination system following repeated allegations of question paper leaks and widespread protests by students across the country.
