Anti-Paper Leak Bill 2026 in Lok Sabha Explained: What Will Change for Students & Exam Bodies?

The amendment is being considered after the stormy Monsoon Session, with the first week largely washed out in the Opposition protests over the NEET-UG paper leak issue and demands for the Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated in a video message where he said that stricter action will be taken against paper leaks, after which the Union Cabinet approved the draft amendments.

What's inside the Anti-Paper Leak Bill 2026

The Anti-Paper Leak Bill 2026 proposes seven key amendments to the 2024 Act, which is mostly focused on timely investigations, fast-track trials, enhanced punishments, and stronger enforcement. Here are the top points of the Anti-Paper Leak Bill 2026:

1. The top expected reform is the provision of powers to state governments and union territories to designate a court of session of a special fast-track court under the Act. This is basically meant to speed up the prosecution process which usually took years.

2. On the penalties side, the amended law raises the stakes considerably. It proposes imprisonment of up to 10 years along with a fine of up to Rs. 10 crore for those found guilty of planning & plotting paper leaks or unfair means in examinations.

3. The Bill also introduces confiscation of assets belonging to convicted persons and sets up a mechanism to ensure that verdicts are delivered within three months of trial commencement, a sharp departure from the slower pace of the current framework.

Beyond the question paper leak, the amendment also increases the scope of offences covered under the Act to include cybercrimes which are linked to examinations, impersonation of candidates, tampering with exam papers, and organised cheating.

The Bill's introduction came into picture after talks between Jitendra Singh, Union Health Minister JP Nadda, and student groups agitating over the NEET-UG issue.

Separately in the Rajya Sabha, Union Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to move the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, on the same day.