A proposed law would combat the “question leak” mafia
New Delhi: The Central government is gearing up to introduce legislation against organized ‘mafias’ involved in leaking question papers for competitive government job examinations and admissions to central educational institutions. This move aims to safeguard deserving aspirants from the unfair advantages gained through leaked papers, leading to exam cancellations or prolonged legal disputes. The bill, titled Prevention of Unfair Means in Public Exams, has received approval from the Union Cabinet and is likely to be presented in Parliament.
The proposed law focuses on curbing organized syndicates engaged in obtaining and disseminating test papers through unfair means for a fee. It is explicitly designed to penalize the entities orchestrating these activities rather than the exam takers. Examinations falling under the purview of this anti-paper leak law may include those conducted by UPSC, SSC, RRB, as well as entrance tests like JEE, NEET, and CUET.
To develop the legislation, the government may appoint a special committee to define its scope and determine punitive measures. Paper leaks have become a pervasive issue, with recent incidents influencing political narratives during elections. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during the Rajasthan poll campaign, criticized the state government for the “paper leak mafia,” emphasizing the need for justice for affected youths.
While Rajasthan has already amended its law to address paper leaks, other states like Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh have enacted anti-paper leak laws, some focusing solely on recruitment examinations and others extending coverage to entrance tests for state educational institutions.
