Public Examinations Prevention of Unfair Means Amendment Bill 2026

jftLVªh lañ Mhñ ,yñ—¼,u½04@0007@2003—26 REGISTERED NO. DL—(N)04/0007/2003—26 सी.जी.-डी.xएxलx.-GअI.D-2H7x0x72x026-274863 CG-DL-E-27072026-274863 xxxGIDExxx vlk/kkj.k EXTRAORDINARY Hkkx II — [k.M 2 PART II — Section 2 izkf/kdkj ls izdkf'kr PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY lañ 15] ubZ fnYyh] lkseokj] tqykbZ 27] 2026@Jko.k 5] 1948 ¼'kd½ No. 15] NEW DELHI, MONDAY, JULY 27, 2026/SHRAVANA 5, 1948 (Saka) bl Hkkx esa fHkUu i`"B la[;k nh tkrh gS ftlls fd ;g vyx ladyu ds :i esa j[kk tk ldsA Separate paging is given to this Part in order that it may be filed as a separate compilation.

LOK SABHA ___________ LOK SABHA The following Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha on 27th July, 2026 ———— The following Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha on 27th July, 2026:— BILL No. 139 OF 2026 Bill No. 139 of 2026 A Bill further to amend the Public Examinations (PreventionofUnfairMeans)Act,2024.

BE it enacted by Parliament in the Seventy-seventh Year of the Republic of

India as follows:—

1. This Act may be called the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Short title.

Means)AmendmentAct, 2026.

1 of 2024. 5 2. In the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 Amendment of

section 10. (hereinafterreferred to as theprincipalAct), in section 10,––

(a)in sub-section (1), for the words “three years but which may extend to five years and with fine up to ten lakh rupees.In”, the words “five years but which may extend up to ten years and with fine up to fifty lakh rupees, and in” 10 shall be substituted;2 THE GAZETTE OF IND2I A EXTRAORDINARY [Part II—

(b) in sub-section (2),––

(i) for the words “one crore rupees”, the words “five crore rupees” shall be substituted;

(ii) for the words “four years”, the words “eight years” shall be substituted; 5

(c) in sub-section (3),––

(i) for the words “three years”, the words “five years” shall be substituted;

(ii) for the words “one crore rupees. In”, the words “five crore rupees, and in” shall be substituted. 10 Amendment of 3. In section 11 of the principal Act, in sub-section (1),––

section 11.

(i) for the words “five years”, the words “seven years” shall be substituted;

(ii) for the words “one crore rupees. In”, the words “ten crore rupees, and in” shall be substituted. 15 Amendment of 4. In section 12 of the principal Act, in sub-section (2),––

section 12.

(a) after the words “Central Investigating Agency”, the words “or a Special Task Force, as that Government may, by notification, constitute in this behalf” shall be inserted;

(b) the following proviso shall be inserted, namely:–– 20 “Provided that where the Central Government constitutes a Special Task Force under this sub-section, such investigation shall be done only by the Special Task Force so constituted.”.

Insertion of new 5. After section 12 of the principal Act, the following sections shall be sections 12A and inserted, namely:–– 25 12B.

Fast tracked “12A. (1) The investigation of an offence under this Act, shall be investigation and completed–– Special Fast Track Courts.

(a) by an officer empowered to investigate under sub-section (1) of section 12, within a period of two months from the date on which the information was recorded by the officer in-charge of the police 30 station; or

(b) by a Central Investigating Agency, within a period of two months from the date of a reference made to it by the Central Government under sub-section (2) of the said section; or

(c) by a Special Task Force, within a period of two months from 35 the date of issuance of notification in this behalf by the Central Government under sub-section (2) of the said section.

(2) For the purposes of providing a speedy trial on day-to-day basis, every State Government and Union territory Administration shall, in consultation with the Chief Justice of the concerned High Court, by 40

notification, designate a Court of Session, to be a Special Fast Track Court to try offences under this Act.

(3) A Special Fast Track Court designated under sub-section (2) shall, while trying offences under this Act, also try other offences connected thereto with which the accused may be charged under the Bharatiya Nyaya 4 5 Sanhita, 2023 or any other law for the time being in force, at the same trial. 45 of 2023.3 2 Sec. 2] THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY 3

(4) In every trial of an offence under this Act, the proceedings shall be

(b) in sub-section (2),–– continued on day-to-day basis, until all the witnesses in attendance have been examined, unless the Special Fast Track Court, for reasons to be recorded in

(i) for the words “one crore rupees”, the words “five crore rupees” shall be substituted; writing, finds that adjournment of the same beyond the following day is 5 necessary:

(ii) for the words “four years”, the words “eight years” shall be substituted; 5 Provided that such trial shall be completed within a period of three months from the date of filing of the chargesheet.

(c) in sub-section (3),––

(5)The cases or trials pertaining to offences under this Act or any other

(i) for the words “three years”, the words “five years” shall be law for the time being in force as specified in sub-section (3), which are substituted; 10 pending on the date of commencement of the Public Examinations (Prevention

(ii) for the words “one crore rupees. In”, the words “five crore of Unfair Means) Amendment Act, 2026, shall stand transferred to the Special rupees, and in” shall be substituted. 10 Fast TrackCourt designated under sub-section (2).

Amendment of 3. In section 11 of the principal Act, in sub-section (1),––

(6)The trial of cases transferred under sub-section (5) shall be conducted

section 11. by the Special Fast Track Court designated under sub-section (2) from the

(i) for the words “five years”, the words “seven years” shall be 15 stage it is received upon such transfer and shall be completed within a period substituted; of three months from the date of such receipt.

(ii) for the words “one crore rupees. In”, the words “ten crore rupees, (7)EveryState Government and Union territory Administration shall, by and in” shall be substituted. 15 notification, appoint one or more Special Public Prosecutors for every Special Fast Track Court in accordance with sub-section (8) of section 18 of the Amendment of 4. In section 12 of the principal Act, in sub-section (2),–– 46 of 2023. 20 Bharatiya Nagarik SurakshaSanhita, 2023, for conduct of cases under this Act.

section 12.

(a) after the words “Central Investigating Agency”, the words “or a

(8) Every person appointed as a Special Public Prosecutor under this Special Task Force, as that Government may, by notification, constitute in this

section, shall be deemed to be a Public Prosecutor within the meaning of behalf” shall be inserted; clause (v) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha

(b) the following proviso shall be inserted, namely:–– 20 46 of 2023. Sanhita, 2023 and the provisions of that Sanhita shall apply accordingly. “Provided that where the Central Government constitutes a 25 12B. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Bharatiya Nagarik Appeals.

Special Task Force under this sub-section, such investigation shall be 46 of 2023. Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, an appeal shall lie from any judgment, sentence or

order, not being an interlocutory order, of a Special Fast Track Court to the done only by the Special Task Force so constituted.”.

High Court.

Insertion of new 5. After section 12 of the principal Act, the following sections shall be sections 12A and inserted, namely:–– 25 (2)Every appeal under sub-section (1) shall be heard by a bench of two 12B. 30 Judges of the High Court and shall, as far as possible, be disposed of within a period of three months from the date of admission of the appeal.

Fast tracked “12A. (1) The investigation of an offence under this Act, shall be investigation and completed–– (3)Except as aforesaid, no appeal or revision shall lie to any Court from Special Fast any judgment, sentence or order including an interlocutory order of a Track Courts.

(a) by an officer empowered to investigate under sub-section (1) SpecialFast TrackCourt. of section 12, within a period of two months from the date on which the information was recorded by the officer in-charge of the police 30 35 (4)Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (3) of section 419 station; or 46 of 2023. of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, an appeal shall lie to the High Court against an order of the Special Fast Track Court granting or

(b) by a Central Investigating Agency, within a period of two refusing bail. months from the date of a reference made to it by the Central

(5)Every appeal under this section shall be preferred within a period of Government under sub-section (2) of the said section; or 40 thirty days from the date of the judgment,sentence or order appealed from:

(c) by a Special Task Force, within a period of two months from 35

Provided that the High Court may entertain an appeal after the expiry of the date of issuance of notification in this behalf by the Central the said period of thirty days if it is satisfied that the appellant had sufficient Government under sub-section (2) of the said section.

cause for not preferring the appeal within the period of thirty days:

(2) For the purposes of providing a speedy trial on day-to-day basis,

Provided further that no appeal shall be entertained after the expiry of every State Government and Union territory Administration shall, in consultation with the Chief Justice of the concerned High Court, by 40 45 the period of ninety days.”.

notification, designate a Court of Session, to be a Special Fast Track Court to try offences under this Act.

(3) A Special Fast Track Court designated under sub-section (2) shall, while trying offences under this Act, also try other offences connected thereto with which the accused may be charged under the Bharatiya Nyaya 4 5 Sanhita, 2023 or any other law for the time being in force, at the same trial. 45 of 2023.4 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY [Part II— STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 (the said Act) was enacted to prevent resorting to unfair means in public examinations and to provide for matters connectedtherewith and incidental thereto. The said Act, being a pan-Indian legislation, aims at effectively deterring persons, organised groups and institutions from indulging in unfair means thereby committing offences, adversely impacting the sanctity of public examinations. The objective of the said Act is to bring greater transparency, fairness and credibility and inspire confidence in the public examinations system.

2.In recent years, there have been some incidents of question paper leakages and malpractices in examinations conducted by public examination authorities, which tend to affect the transparency and fairness of the public examinations system.

3.Hence, in order to further strengthen the fairness, to enhance the credibility of the public examinations system and to facilitate speedy trial and ensure time bound investigations of offences under the said Act, it is necessary to make amendments in the said Act, inter alia,––

(i) to empower all State Governments and Union territory Administrations to designate any Court of Session to be a Special Fast Track Court to try offences under the said Act;

(ii)to provide that the proceedings in such Special Fast Track Courts are continued on day-to-day basis and the trial shall be completed within a period of three months from the date of filing of the charge sheet;

(iii)to empower the Central Government to also constitute Special Task Force for investigationof any offence, if necessary;

(iv)to provide that the investigations for offences under the said Act are completed within a period of two months;

(v) to empower all State Governments and Union territory Administrations to appoint one or more Special Public Prosecutors for conduct of cases under the said Act;

(vi)to enhance the term of imprisonments and fines provided therein for offences committed under the said Act; and

(vii) to provide for appeal mechanism as against any judgement, sentence or orderto a bench of two Judges of the High Court, and for disposal of the same within a period of three months from the date of admission of appeal.

4.The Bill seeks to achieve the above objectives.

NEWDELHI; DR. JITENDRA SINGH.

The24thJuly, 2026. _________ UTPAL KUMAR SINGH UTPAL KUMAR SINGH Secretary-General.

Secretary General UPLOADED BY THE MANAGER, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA PRESS, MINTO ROAD, NEW DELHI–110002 AND PUBLISHED BY THE CONTROLLER OF PUBLICATIONS, DELHI–110054.

4 MGIPMRND—466GI(S4)—27-07-2026.