• The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 was introduced in Lok Sabha on July 27, 2026.  It seeks to amend the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.  The Act aims to prevent unfair means in public examinations conducted by specified public examination authorities.  These include: (i) Union Public Service Commission, (ii) Staff Selection Commission, (iii) Railway Recruitment Boards, (iv) Institute of Banking Personnel Selection, (v) National Testing Agency, (vi) Ministries of the central government and their attached offices, and (vii) other authorities notified by the central government.

• Increase in penalties:  The Bill increases the quantum of imprisonment and fines for various offences (Table 1).

 Table 1: Penalty under the Act and the Bill 

• Debarment of service providers:  The Act also debars a service provider engaging in unfair means for four years, from being assigned any responsibility for conduct of any public examination.  The Bill enhances the period of debarment to eight years.

• Special Task Force for investigation:  Under the Act, the central government may refer investigation of offences to any central investigating agency.  The Bill empowers the central government to constitute a special task force to investigate offences.

• Timeline for investigation:  The Bill adds that investigation of offences must be completed within two months.

• Special Fast Track Courts:  The Bill requires every state and UT to designate a Court of Session as a Special Fast Track Court to try offences under the Act.  The Special Fast Track Courts will also try any connected offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 or other laws, in the same trial.  Every state and UT must also appoint one or more special public prosecutors for each Special Fast Track Court.  All pending cases under the Act will stand transferred to Special Fast Track Courts.

• Timeline for trial: The Bill adds that trials must be conducted on a day-to-day basis.  The Court may adjourn to the following day, if necessary, after recording reasons in writing.  Trial must be completed within three months from the date of filing of the chargesheet.  Trial in the transferred pending cases must be completed within three months from the date of transfer.

• Appeal:  The Bill adds that appeals against judgments, sentences, or orders of the Special Fast Track Courts will lie before a bench of two Judges of the High Court.  Appeals must be disposed of, as far as possible, within three months from admission.  Appeals against orders granting or refusing bail will also lie before the High Court.  Appeals must be filed within 30 days of the order.  The High Court may entertain delay for sufficient cause, but no appeal may be entertained after 90 days.