India proposes more than $1 million fine, harsher penalties for exam paper leaks
. . . after student protests ousted of Education Minister Pradhan last week
Indian government has proposed stricter penalties for examination paper leaks, including longer prison sentences and significantly higher fines, in an effort to rebuild public confidence in the country’s education system following widespread student protests.
Under amendments introduced in parliament on Tuesday, the maximum prison term for individuals involved in leaking exam papers would increase from five years to 10 years. Proposed fines could rise to more than $1 million, while authorities also plan to speed up legal proceedings in such cases.
The move comes after weeks of student-led demonstrations over repeated exam leaks and allegations of irregularities, which contributed to the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan last week.
The protests, organized in part through the online Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) movement, gained support from students across India and became a major challenge for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.
Senior minister Jitendra Singh told parliament’s lower house that the proposed changes were aimed at strengthening protections for students and ensuring faster justice. He said the tougher measures would help restore trust in major competitive examinations.
The issue has also triggered political tensions, with opposition lawmakers criticizing the government’s handling of the protests and repeatedly disrupting parliament during its monsoon session.
On Tuesday, India’s Supreme Court ordered the release of detained protesters under the age of 18 who had no previous criminal records, news agencies report.
Exam paper leaks have remained a persistent problem in India’s highly competitive education system, where millions of students compete for limited university places and government jobs. The pressure surrounding major exams has contributed to the growth of coaching centers and created opportunities for criminal networks to distribute leaked papers.
Despite previous efforts to prevent malpractice, leaks continue to affect both national and state-level examinations.
Tensions escalated in New Delhi on July 20 when protesters attempted to march from the Jantar Mantar demonstration site towards parliament.
Police used tear gas and batons to disperse crowds, resulting in clashes and multiple arrests.
