The Union Cabinet gave its nod on Friday to a bill raising the punishment for organised examination paper leaks, hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the move.
The bill amends the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, lifting the minimum jail term for paper-leak convictions from three years to five.
For organised paper leaks, the bill proposes up to 10 years in jail along with a fine of up to Rs 10 crore.
The move follows the national outrage over the 2024 NEET-UG and UGC-NET paper leaks that led to the original Act.
The bill is likely to be taken up in Parliament for consideration and passing on Monday.
(Image: Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs / PIB (GODL-India))