National Anchor News Network Team
Anti-paper leak law enacted in the country; Imprisonment for 10 years, fine of Rs.1 crore
New Delhi: National Anchor News Network: The Government of India is in ‘Action Mode’ after the revelations of malpractices in the ‘NEET’ and ‘UGC NET’ exams. The government has taken a big decision and has implemented a strict law to prevent paper leakage. The Central Government has notified the ‘Public Examinations (Prevention of Fair Means) Act, 2024’.
The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 – the anti-paper leak law for examinations for central recruitment and entrance into central educational institutions, came into effect on Friday.
A gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions said, “In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 1 of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 (1 of 2024), the central government hereby appoints the 21st day of June 2024, as the date on which the provisions of the said Act shall come into force.
The purpose of this anti-paper-cheating law is to prevent paper-cheating and copying in competitive examinations. Criminals under this Act face a maximum imprisonment of 10 years and a fine of up to Rs 1 crore.
Act provides punishment for various 15 acts.
1. Cracking question paper or answer sheet before examination.
2. Involvement in paper shredding.
3. Viewing or keeping the question paper or OMR sheet without any authority.
4. Any unauthorized person answering one or more questions during the examination.
5. Directly or indirectly assisting the candidate in writing answers in any examination.
6. If any discrepancy is found in answer sheet or OMR sheet.
7. Any alteration of assessment without any authority or actual error.
8. In case of willful disregard or violation of the norms and rules laid down by the Central Government for any examination.
9. Tampering with any document deemed necessary for shortlisting a candidate or determining his merit or rank.
10. For deliberate violation of security standards with the intention of creating irregularities in conducting the examination.
11. It also includes tampering with a computer network, computer resource or any computer system.
12. If the candidate commits any irregularity in the seating arrangement, examination date or shift allotment with the intention of cheating in the examination.
13. Intimidation of persons belonging to public examination authority, service provider or any government body or disrupting any examination.
14. Creating a fake website to extort or defraud.
15. Conducting fake exams, issuing fake admit cards or offer letters can also be punished.
