Explained: What changes after India's tougher anti-paper leak law comes into force

Edited by: Yashasvi Vasistha / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Aug 01, 2026, 16:57 IST

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Anti-paper leak law gets President's nod (Representative image)

NEW DELHI: The Centre's tougher anti-paper leak law has officially come into force from Saturday after President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, paving the way for stricter punishment, time-bound investigations and fast-track trials in public examination fraud cases.

What changes from today?

Time-bound investigation and trial

Harsher punishment

Minimum imprisonment of five years

Maximum imprisonment of 10 years

Fine of up to Rs 50 lakh

For organised examination fraud or paper leak rackets, the punishment is even stricter:

Minimum imprisonment of seven years

Fine of up to Rs 10 crore

The amendments enhance penalties prescribed under the 2024 law.

What acts are now punishable?

Leaking question papers

Tampering with OMR sheets

Creating fake examination websites

Issuing fake admit cards

Other organised methods used to manipulate public examinations

The law is intended to target both individuals and organised criminal networks involved in examination fraud.

Which exams are covered?

Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)

Staff Selection Commission (SSC)

National Testing Agency (NTA)

Railway recruitment examinations

Banking recruitment examinations

Other notified central public examinations

Before the 2024 legislation, there was no dedicated substantive law dealing specifically with unfair means adopted in central public examinations.

Greater deterrence against organised paper leak networks

The law forms part of the government's broader effort to strengthen the integrity of public examinations following repeated incidents of question paper leaks across the country.