The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, by voice vote amid sloganeering and an Opposition walkout.

The legislation introduces stricter punishment of up to 10 years' imprisonment and a Rs 50 lakh fine for serious offences related to paper leaks and examination fraud.

The bill, introduced by Union Minister Jitendra Singh on July 27, came days after large-scale student protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party resulted in Dharmendra Pradhan stepping down as Union Education Minister.

Replying to the debate, Singh said the government had acted swiftly in the NEET paper leak case and that 52 FIRs had been registered since the anti-paper leak law came into force in 2024.

He said the amendment demonstrated the government's willingness to learn from experience and claimed that suicides linked to paper leaks had declined in recent years.

Singh also criticised Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, alleging that he lacked knowledge of parliamentary norms and the functioning of the government. Soon after the bill was passed, the Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day.