Bill raises unfair means fines to ₹50 lakh, 10-year jail

This Bill amends the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, to increase penalties for unfair means and establish a fast-track judicial process to ensure investigations are completed within two months and trials within three months.

Individuals, groups, institutions, and service providers involved in public examinations; State Governments and Union Territory Administrations (for designating courts and appointing prosecutors); and the Central Government (for constituting Special Task Forces).

• Increases minimum imprisonment for general unfair means from 3 to 5 years and maximum from 5 to 10 years.
• Increases the fine for general unfair means from up to 10 lakh rupees to up to 50 lakh rupees.
• Increases the fine for service providers from 1 crore rupees to 5 crore rupees and extends the ban on conducting exams from 4 to 8 years.
• Increases penalties for organized crime, raising minimum imprisonment to 7 years and minimum fine to 10 crore rupees.
• Allows the Central Government to constitute a Special Task Force for investigations, which must be completed within 2 months.
• Mandates State Governments and UT Administrations to designate Courts of Session as Special Fast Track Courts.
• Requires trials in Special Fast Track Courts to be conducted on a day-to-day basis and completed within 3 months of the chargesheet filing.
• Requires the appointment of Special Public Prosecutors for these courts.
• Establishes an appeal mechanism to a bench of two High Court Judges, with appeals to be disposed of within 3 months of admission.

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