In a significant move to address the escalating issue of cheating and unfair practices in public examinations, the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions has introduced the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024, in the Parliament. This legislative initiative aims to instill greater transparency, fairness, and credibility into the public examination systems, providing assurance to the youth that their genuine efforts will be duly recognized and rewarded, ensuring a secure future.

The primary objective of the Bill is to effectively and legally deter individuals, organized groups, or institutions that engage in various unfair means, thereby adversely affecting the public examination systems for monetary or wrongful gains. By identifying specific unfair means and offenses during public examinations, the Bill establishes a robust framework to combat malpractices and safeguard the integrity of the examination process.

The key provisions of the Bill include:

1. Question Paper or Answer Key Leaks:
Prohibits the unauthorized disclosure of question papers or answer keys before or during public examinations.

2. Collusion in Question Paper or Answer Key Leaks:
Addresses the participation in collusion with others to facilitate question paper or answer key leaks.

3. Unauthorized Access to Question Papers or OMR Response Sheets:
Restricts the unauthorized access or possession of question papers or Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) response sheets.

4. Unauthorized Assistance during Examinations:
Forbids the provision of solutions to candidates by any unauthorized person during a public examination.

5. Tampering with Answer Sheets:
Prohibits the tampering of answer sheets, including OMR response sheets.

6. Altering Assessment without Authority:
Restricts the alteration of assessments, except for correcting bona fide errors, without proper authorization.

7. Violation of Norms or Standards:
Addresses the willful violation of norms or standards set by the central government for the conduct of public examinations.

8. Tampering with Documents for Short-listing or Merit Finalization:
Prohibits tampering with any document necessary for short-listing of candidates or finalizing merit or rank in public examinations.

9. Security Measures Violation:
Addresses the deliberate violation of security measures to facilitate unfair means in the conduct of public examinations.

10. Tampering with Computer Resources:
Prohibits tampering with computer networks, resources, or systems related to public examinations.

11. Manipulation in Seating Arrangements:
Restricts manipulation in seating arrangements, allocation of dates, and shifts to facilitate adopting unfair means in examinations.

12. Threats and Obstruction:
Addresses threats to life, liberty, or wrongful restraint of individuals associated with the public examination authority or service provider, as well as obstruction of the examination process.

13. Creation of Fake Websites:
Prohibits the creation of fake websites for cheating or monetary gain.

14. Conduct of Fake Examinations:
Forbids the conduct of fake examinations, issuance of fake admit cards, or offer letters for cheating or monetary gain.

This comprehensive and stringent legislation reflects a commitment to maintaining the sanctity of public examinations and ensuring that the aspirations of the youth are built on a foundation of fairness, merit, and integrity. As the Bill moves through the legislative process, its enactment will mark a crucial step toward a more secure and reliable public examination system in the country.