The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, which aims to prevent unfair means in public examinations and common entrance tests held across the country, came into effect on 21 June 2024.
- On February 13, President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024, which aims to check cheating in government recruitment exams.
Key provisions
- It seeks to prevent the use of “unfair means” in public examinations and bring “greater transparency, fairness, and credibility”.
- The public examinations referred to in the Act include those conducted by authorities notified by the central government.
- The enactment identifies 15 acts of unfair conduct, which include paper leaks, the creation of fake websites and fake examinations for monetary gain. Importantly, the legislation excludes students/candidates from the purview of the act.
- Candidates will continue to be governed by the administrative The Act also prohibits the disclosure of exam-related confidential information before time and unauthorized people from entering exam centers to create disruptions.
- Offenses will be punishable with imprisonment between three and five years and a fine of up to Rs 10 lakh.
- All offenses under the Bill will be cognizable, non-bailable, and non-compoundable.
- A service provider, engaged by the public examination authority for conduct of examinations, shall also be liable to be punished with imposition of a fine up to ₹1 crore “and proportionate cost of examination shall also be recovered” from it.
