India's upper house of parliament passed a bill on July 30 to increase penalties for exam paper leaks, marking a significant step in the government's efforts to combat cheating in national examinations. The bill, which was approved by the lower house a day earlier, will now be sent to President Droupadi Murmu for her assent.
Under the new legislation, the maximum prison term for those involved in leaking exam papers will double to 10 years, with fines potentially exceeding $1 million. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cabinet approved the stricter penalties last week.
Speaking at the Rajya Sabha (upper house) session, Jitendra Singh, minister of state for negotiations with protesters, emphasized: “This is a matter of concern for every parent, every family, and every citizen of the country, because these children are our most precious assets.”
The bill comes amid weeks of widespread youth protests across India against exam paper leaks and other irregularities. The movement reached a peak when Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on July 26.
The protest movement, initiated by the online campaign “Cockroach Janta Party” (CJP), has gained wide support from students nationwide, posing a major challenge to Prime Minister Modi's government. Exam paper leaks have been a recurring issue in national and state-level tests despite government crackdowns.
Indian media reported that the federal investigation agency has charged 13 people with various offenses related to a leak in the national medical school entrance exam earlier this year, which is seen as one of the triggers for the youth protests.
Previously, on July 20, protests in New Delhi turned violent as crowds attempted to march toward parliament. Police used tear gas and batons to disperse them, leading to clashes and multiple arrests.
