What is The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill 2024? – All Provisions – Everything you Need to Know – The Public Examinations Bill 2024
Table of Contents
Introduction to The Public Examinations Bill 2024 UPSC
The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024: Recently, In Loksabha (Upper House of Indian Parliament) a new bill or Anti-Cheating bill has been tabled on the floor. This bill mainly provides punishable provisions when someone commits crimes related to Cheating in Government Exam in India. The name of this bill is The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill.
Knowing about this bill become crucial for all of those who are preparing for Government Exams in India such as UPSC, SSC or more.
If you are also preparing for such exams and wants to know about The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill 2024 in detail, then this blog is one stop solution for your information requirement.
So, let’s start-
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Why The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill 2024 is in News? – The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill UPSC – The Public Examinations Bill 2024
The Public Examinations Bill 2024 is making headlines because the Indian government introduced it to tackle the problem of leaked exam papers in government recruitment tests. The bill, led by Union Minister Jitendra Singh, targets organized cheating in various key exams, including those conducted by the Union Public Service Commission, Staff Selection Commission, Indian Railways, banking recruitment, and National Testing Agency’s computer-based tests.
The issue at hand is the persistent leakage of exam papers, causing delays and cancellations that affect numerous students. Organized groups have been identified as culprits in these malpractices, prompting the need for a comprehensive legal solution.
The proposed law suggests strict penalties to discourage cheating and organized crimes in exam-related malpractices. Individuals caught cheating could face certain years in prison, while those involved in organized cheating might receive imprisonment upto 10 years with a significant fine of 1 Crore Indian rupees.
What is the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill 2024? – Public Examinations Bill 2024 UPSC
The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill 2024 is a legislative initiative introduced by the Indian federal government to combat the persistent issue of malpractices, including the leaking of examination papers, in government recruitment exams.
Led by Minister for Personnel Jitendra Singh, the bill targets a range of key examinations conducted by various government bodies, such as the Union Public Service Commission, Staff Selection Commission, Indian Railways, banking recruitment exams, and computer-based tests by the National Testing Agency.
The primary objective of the bill is to address the detrimental impact of leaked question papers on the integrity of public examinations. It proposes stringent penalties to discourage cheating and organized crimes related to examination malpractices.
Individuals found guilty of cheating may face three to five years of imprisonment, while those engaged in organized cheating could be accompanied by a substantial monetary fine of 10 million Indian rupees.
Provisions of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill 2024 – Provisions of Public Examinations Bill 2024 UPSC
This Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill 2024 provides a widespread provisions for criminal acts of Cheating or similar acts during government exams-
Key definitions related to The Public Examinations Bill 2024:-
- Public examination: Includes university exams, board exams, entrance exams like UPSC, NEET, JEE, and recruitment exams like SSC and Railways.
- Unfair means: Defined in 20 specific categories, including:
- Paper leaks or sharing answer keys
- Impersonation
- Tampering with documents or computer systems
- Using unauthorized communication devices or materials
- Receiving or providing unauthorized assistance
- Organized malpractices involving gangs or institutions
Penalties under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill 2024
- Individuals involved in unfair means: Imprisonment for 3-5 years and a fine of up to ₹10 lakh.
- Exam service providers found guilty: Imprisonment upto 10 years & Fine of up to ₹1 crore.
- Offences are cognizable, non-bailable, and non-compoundable.
Investigation and enforcement
- Empowers officers of significant rank to investigate offences.
- District courts handle trials.
Additional provisions related to The Public Examinations Bill 2024
- Bill does not apply to candidates directly, who remain covered under existing administrative provisions of respective exam authorities.
- Serves as a model draft for states to adopt at their discretion.
All 20 categories of Criminal Acts Covered under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill 2024 – The Public Examinations Bill 2024 All Catagories
The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill 2024 or simply The Public Examinations Bill 2024 addresses a wide range of activities aimed at ensuring the integrity of government recruitment exams. Here’s a simplified explanation of the 20 categories of criminal acts covered in the bill:
- Leakage of Question Paper or Answer Key: Sharing or trying to access exam questions or answers before the scheduled test.
- Impersonation: Pretending to be someone else during the exam.
- Tampering with Answer Sheets or Mark Sheets: Changing written answers or awarded marks.
- Using Unfair Materials or Communication Devices: Having unauthorized notes, electronic devices, or materials during the exam for an unfair advantage.
- Receiving or Providing Assistance: Sharing answers, communicating during the exam, or getting unauthorized help.
- Manipulation in Seating Arrangements: Colluding to secure favorable seating for cheating.
- Fabricating or Using Fake Documents: Submitting forged admit cards, identity proofs, or other documents.
- Impeding the Conduct of the Exam: Disrupting the exam through disorderly conduct, violence, or threats.
- Organized Malpractices: Involvement in cheating schemes run by gangs or institutions.
- Creating Fake Websites or Portals: Setting up online platforms to deceive candidates for cheating.
- Conducting Fake Exams or Issuing Fake Admit Cards: Organizing bogus exams or providing forged admit cards.
- Misuse of Official Position: Using authority to assist candidates in cheating.
- Abetment of Unfair Means: Intentionally helping someone commit unfair practices.
- Destruction of Evidence: Deleting, hiding, or damaging evidence related to unfair means.
- Hacking or Tampering with Computer Systems: Unauthorized access or manipulation of exam-related computer systems.
- Disclosing Confidential Information: Leaking sensitive exam details.
- Selling or Purchasing Exam Materials: Commercializing question papers or answer keys.
- Impersonating an Examiner or Invigilator: Falsely posing as an official involved in the exam.
- Creating or Using Malware: Using malicious software for unfair means.
- Any Other Act: Engaging in any activity not explicitly mentioned but considered unfair or fraudulent in the context of public examinations.
Punishment under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill 2024 – The Public Examinations Bill 2024 Punishments
The bill proposes penalties for two main categories:
- Individuals involved in unfair means
- Exam service providers found guilty of facilitating such practices.
1. Individuals
- Imprisonment: 3-5 years.
- Fine: Up to ₹10 lakh.
- Compoundable: No, meaning the offense cannot be settled with a payment.
- Bailable: No, meaning bail cannot be granted automatically.
- Cognizable: Yes, meaning police can arrest without a warrant.
2. Exam Service Providers
- Fine: Up to ₹1 crore.
- Imprisonment: Upto 10 Years
- Additional penalty: The bill also empowers authorities to recover the proportional cost of conducting the re-examination from the service provider if their negligence led to paper leaks or other serious malpractices.
Here are some additional details to consider:
- The specific punishment within the range will depend on the severity of the offense, the intent of the individual, and other factors determined by the court.
- The bill does not apply to candidates taking the exam. They remain subject to existing administrative rules and disciplinary actions set by the respective exam authorities.
- The bill is still under consideration and might undergo changes before becoming law.
Source:
PRS Legislative Research , India Today , The Hindu , Hindustan Times
Status of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill 2024 – The Public Examinations Bill 2024 Status
The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill 2024 is currently still under consideration in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian Parliament. It was introduced on Monday 5th of February 2024, and has not yet progressed to voting or being passed into law.
Here’s a summary of its current status of The Public Examinations Bill 2024:
- Introduced: Monday 5th of February 2024
- Current stage: Under consideration in Lok Sabha
- Next steps: It might be sent to a parliamentary committee for further examination before being debated and voted upon in the Lok Sabha. If passed here, it will go through the same process in the Rajya Sabha, the upper house. Finally, it would need to be signed by the President to become law.
10 Key Facts about the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill 2024 – The Public Examinations Bill 2024 Key Facts
| Fact | Description |
| Date of introduction | Monday 5th of February 2024 |
| Key Objective | To stop Malpractices like cheating in Government recruitment exams |
| Defines | 20 specific unfair means |
| Punishment (Individual) | Imprisonment 3-5 years |
| Fine (Individual) | Up to ₹10 lakh |
| Punishment (Service Provider) | Fine up to ₹1 crore Or Imprisonment Upto 10 Years or Both |
| Bail | Non-bailable |
| Settlement | Non-compoundable |
| Investigations | By senior officers |
| Model Draft | For state-level legislation |
| Applies to | Service providers & organizers |
| Status | Under debate in Parliament (Still a Bill) |
FAQs related to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill 2024 – Public Examinations Bill 2024 UPSC Questions
Question-1: What is The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill 2024 or The Public Examinations Bill 2024?
Answer. This bill aims to prevent cheating and malpractices in various public examinations across India, including entrance exams (NEET, JEE, UPSC) and government recruitment exams (SSC, Railways).
Question-2: Why is The Public Examinations Bill 2024 making headlines?
Answer. It proposes stricter penalties for cheating, targets organized malpractices, and focuses on holding exam service providers accountable. This, combined with its potential impact on various exams, has garnered public attention.
Question-3: Who introduced The Public Examinations Bill in the Indian Parliament?
Answer. The Union Government of India introduced the bill in the Lok Sabha on Monday 5th of February 2024.
Question-4: Which government exams does the bill specifically target?
Answer. It covers a wide range, including UPSC, NEET, JEE, SSC, Railways, and other public examinations notified by the government.
Question-5: What problem does The Public Examinations Bill aim to solve?
Answer. Curbing cheating, paper leaks, and organized malpractices that undermine the integrity and fairness of public examinations.
Question-6: What penalties does the bill propose for individuals involved in unfair means during exams?
Answer. In this bill provision of 3-5 years imprisonment and a fine of up to ₹10 lakh for engaging in unfair means is provided.
Question-7: How does the bill address organized cheating in government exams?
Answer. It defines specific offenses like organized gangs manipulating exams, and empowers authorities to investigate and penalize them effectively.
Question-8: What are the key provisions of The Public Examinations Bill 2024?
Answer. It defines 20 specific unfair means described in this blog above.
Question-9: How does the bill define “unfair means” in the context of exams?
Answer. Includes 20 categories like paper leaks, impersonation, unauthorized assistance, tampering with documents, and using technology for cheating.
Question-10: What is the punishment for exam service providers found guilty under the bill?
Answer. For exam service provider, Up to ₹1 crore fine, or 10 Years of imprisonment or both.
Question-11: Is the bill applicable to candidates directly taking the exams?
Answer. No, it deals with individuals or groups facilitating cheating, not candidates directly taking the exam.
Question-12: How does The Public Examinations Bill handle the investigation and enforcement of offenses?
Answer. This bill empowers officers of significant rank to investigate, and offenses are cognizable, non-bailable, and non-compoundable.
Question-13: What are the additional provisions of the bill regarding candidates and states?
Answer. This bill exempts candidates from direct application but emphasizes their disciplinary actions under existing exam authority rules.
Question-14: Are there specific categories of unfair acts defined in the bill?
Answer. Yes, the bill defines 20 specific categories encompassing various forms of cheating and malpractices.
Question-15: How does the bill propose to recover costs from exam service providers for malpractices?
Answer. The bill empowers authorities to recover the proportional cost of re-examinations from service providers found negligent in preventing paper leaks or other serious malpractices.
Question-16: Is the bill currently a law, or is it still under consideration?
Answer. Yes, this bill was introduced in Loksabha on Monday 5th of February 2024, means yesterday. It is still a bill, not the law. It is still in consideration.
Question-17: What is the status of The Public Examinations Bill in the Lok Sabha?
Answer. This bill is still in consideration.
Question-18: When was The Public Examinations Bill 2024 introduced in the Indian Parliament?
Answer. This bill named The Public Examinations Bill 2024 was introduced in parliament on Monday 5th of February 2024
Question-19: Can the offenses under the bill be settled with a payment?
Answer. No, they are non-compoundable, meaning they cannot be settled with a payment.
Question-20: What are the next steps for The Public Examinations Bill to become law in India?
Answer. These are the next step:
- Debate and discussion in the Lok Sabha.
- Potential amendments and voting stages.
- If passed, then sent to the Rajya Sabha for similar process.
- Final approval by the President for becoming law.
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