New Law in India Targets Exam Corruption with Severe Penalties

Late on Friday night, the Indian government officially enacted the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act 2024 aimed at combating rampant corruption in conducting exams for college admissions and government jobs. The new law, which was passed by the Indian parliament earlier this year in February, introduces stringent penalties to deter malpractice.

Key provisions of the law include up to 10 years of imprisonment and a fine of 10 million Indian rupees (approximately 119,674 U.S. dollars) for individuals found guilty of involvement in irregularities or corrupt practices during examinations. This move comes in response to mounting public outcry and protests nationwide, particularly against the National Testing Agency, following several instances of question paper leaks in major national-level exams.

The enactment of this law marks a significant step towards ensuring the integrity and fairness of examinations crucial for academic and career opportunities in India. It underscores the government’s commitment to upholding transparency and meritocracy in the education and employment sectors amid growing concerns over systemic corruption.