PM Modi Announces More Stringent Measures Against Paper Leaks
Prime Minister says Cabinet to take up tougher actions as Centre intensifies crackdown on examination fraud
- PM Modi announced Cabinet will consider an anti-paper leak Bill on Friday.
- Draft law proposes fast-track courts and tougher punishment for offenders.
- Government aims to pass the legislation during the ongoing Monsoon Session.
- PM says protecting students’ future remains the Centre’s top priority.
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 24th July: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced that the Union Cabinet will consider a draft anti-paper leak Bill on Friday, proposing the establishment of fast-track courts and stricter punishment for those involved in examination paper leak cases.
In a nearly three-minute video message posted late Thursday night, the Prime Minister said the government would make every effort to introduce and pass the legislation during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament.
Calling paper leaks a matter of grave concern, Modi said the issue had caused immense distress to lakhs of students and their families.
“This is not a minor issue. It has caused immense pain to lakhs of students and their parents,” he said.
The Prime Minister said the government’s immediate priority after the alleged NEET paper leak was to ensure students did not lose an academic year. He noted that the Centre mobilised its full administrative machinery to conduct the re-examination for nearly 2.2 million students, with results declared on July 19.
“Our foremost responsibility was to ensure that students did not lose an academic year. It was essential to conduct the examinations at the earliest,” Modi said.
He added that while several accused had already been arrested and jailed in connection with the alleged paper leak, the government believed stronger legal measures were necessary.
“Today I directed the departments to prepare provisions for fast-track courts,” the Prime Minister said, adding that officials prepared the draft legislation the same day and submitted it for Cabinet consideration.
According to Modi, the proposed law includes provisions for fast-track courts and stringent punishment for offenders. Following Cabinet approval, the government will seek to introduce and pass the Bill at the earliest during Parliament’s second week of the Monsoon Session.
The announcement comes amid continuing nationwide protests over the alleged NEET paper leak and repeated disruptions in Parliament, where the Opposition has demanded a discussion on the issue and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The Centre has maintained that it has acted swiftly against those responsible while pursuing broader legal and institutional reforms to prevent future paper leaks.
