Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024

The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024, introduced in the Indian Parliament, aims to address and prevent malpractices in public examinations conducted by central authorities. It was introduced in the Lok Sabha on February 5, 2024, and passed in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha by February 9, 2024. The Bill includes a range of public examinations such as those conducted by the UPSC, SSC, and other central agencies. Its key provisions include defining offenses related to unfair means in examinations, setting stringent punishments including imprisonment and fines, and outlining the responsibilities of service providers involved in examination processes. The legislation seeks to enhance transparency, fairness, and credibility in public examinations, addressing issues like paper leaks and cheating that have long plagued these tests. The Bill also includes the setup of a High-level National Technical Committee for technological solutions in examinations.