Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Bansuri Swaraj on Tuesday, 28 July defended the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 in Parliament, crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi with identifying systemic flaws in India's examination framework and delivering a legislative remedy. Speaking during the House debate in New Delhi, Swaraj called paper leak a 'major crime' and described the amended Bill as proof of the Modi government's 'sensitivity and responsible governance.'

Key Provisions of the Amendment Bill

Swaraj outlined several structural changes the Bill introduces. Investigations into paper leak cases must be completed within two months, while fast-track courts — to be established in every state and union territory — are mandated to conclude trials and deliver verdicts within three months. The Bill also provides for the appointment of special public prosecutors dedicated exclusively to such cases.

To prevent procedural delays, the Bill bars fast-track courts from granting unnecessary adjournments. Any request for adjournment — by either the defence or the prosecution — must be submitted in writing with stated reasons. Appeals by the accused will be heard by a division bench of the High Court and must also be resolved within three months.

Stiffer Penalties for Offenders

The amendment substantially raises the cost of paper leak offences. For a common accused, the fine has been increased from ₹10 lakh to ₹50 lakh, and the jail term raised from 3–5 years to 5–10 years. Service providers found complicit face a fine of ₹5 crore and an eight-year debarment. Where a criminal organisation is involved, the minimum fine is ₹10 crore, with imprisonment of 7–10 years.

What Swaraj Said in Parliament

Describing competitive examinations as the 'most meritocratic ritual' in India's democracy, Swaraj argued that a paper leak 'dilutes a holy covenant' that binds students across class lines. 'It is the only ritual where both the son of a labourer and daughter of a CEO sit down to answer the same set of questions and get judged by the same yardstick,' she said.

Swaraj also invoked a Gen Z colloquialism, saying Modi 'clocked it and provided a legislative solution' — a phrase that drew attention during the debate. She further referenced the Prime Minister's 'Pariksha Pe Charcha' initiative, saying it had helped youth 'transform from exam worrier to exam warrior.'

Opposition Targeted Over Paper Leaks

Swaraj went on the offensive against the Indian National Congress (Congress) and other opposition parties, accusing them of 'selective outrage' over the paper leak issue. She claimed that according to media reports, approximately 22 paper leak cases were reported in opposition-ruled states and during the previous United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime. She specifically cited a 'high-tech paper leak' in a pharmaceutical examination in Punjab and questioned whether the Punjab Education Minister's resignation had been sought. She also noted that no professional testing body existed before 2014, with the National Testing Agency (NTA) being established only in 2017.

What Comes Next

With the Bill now under parliamentary debate, its passage would set binding timelines for investigation and adjudication of exam fraud — a reform long demanded by student groups following high-profile leaks in competitive examinations. The establishment of fast-track courts and dedicated prosecutors across all states would mark a significant institutional shift in how India handles examination integrity cases.