The Centre on Friday operationalised a stringent law to tackle malpractices and irregularities in competitive examinations.
This law, designed to curb cheating, entails provisions for a maximum jail term of 10 years and fines up to Rs 1 crore for offenders.
The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, received President Droupadi Murmu's assent nearly four months ago. The Personnel Ministry issued a notification on Friday night, bringing the law into force from June 21.
This development gains importance amid ongoing controversies surrounding the UGC-NET 2024 exam's question paper leak.
On Thursday, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered a case to investigate the leak in the exam conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA).
Opposition parties have also raised concerns about irregularities in the NEET-UG medical entrance exam, whose results were announced by the NTA on June 4.
"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," the notification stated.
The Act's notification follows a query directed at Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan regarding its implementation. The minister indicated that the law ministry was finalising the rules.
The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024, was passed by the Rajya Sabha on February 9 and the Lok Sabha on February 6. President Murmu gave her assent on February 12, enacting it into law.
The Act aims to prevent unfair means in public examinations conducted by bodies such as the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Staff Selection Commission (SSC), railways, banking recruitment examinations, and the NTA.
It prescribes a minimum imprisonment of three to five years for cheating, with organised cheating crimes facing five to ten years of imprisonment and a minimum fine of Rs 1 crore.
Before this legislation, there was no specific substantive law addressing unfair means or offences committed by various entities involved in conducting public examinations by the central government and its agencies.
Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh remarked that the Act targets organised gangs and institutions engaged in unfair means for monetary gain while protecting candidates from its harsh provisions.
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