NEET exam, UGC-NET line 2024: What is the new “anti-paper leakage” law? What are the resulting sanctions? | Latest news India

Amid the ongoing controversy over alleged irregularities in the NEET medical entrance exam, the Union Education Ministry on Wednesday (June 19) ordered the cancellation of the UGC-NET 2024 following information that the integrity of the review may have been compromised. He also referred the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation for investigation.

The Education Ministry has also sought a report from the Economic Offenses Unit of the Bihar Police regarding alleged irregularities in the conduct of the National Eligibility and Entrance Test (NEET-UG) 2024 in Patna, and said further action would be taken based on the report.

Read also | UGC-NET 2024: Why did the Center cancel the exam? How does it take place? Explain

Unlike earlier practice, the National Eligibility Test (NET) was conducted on paper, this time on a single day – June 18 – with a record 11 lakh students registering for the exam.

UGC-NET is a test to determine the eligibility of Indian nationals for the award of Junior Research Fellowships, appointment as Assistant Professors and admission to PhD in Indian Universities and Colleges.

The reports of alleged irregularities in exams came months after the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha passed an ‘anti-cheating’ bill aimed at checking fraudulent practices – such as leaking of exam papers. exam – during government recruitment exams.

Read also | UGC-NET 2024 cancelled: Mallikarjun Kharge questions PM Narendra Modi; how opposition leaders reacted

In February, President Droupadi Murmu approved the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, which became a law.

The Center has passed the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 to tackle leaks, malpractices as well as organized malpractices in recruitment exams like UPSC, SSC, etc. and entrance tests such as NEET, JEE and CUET.

Public Examination Penalties (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act 2024

• The Public Examination Punishment (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 proposes that unfair means be punishable with imprisonment of three to five years and a fine of up to ₹10 millions.
• In the event that any person, group or persons commit an organized crime of this nature which includes the examination authority, service providers or any other institution, they will be punished with imprisonment of five to 10 years with a minimum fine of ₹1 billion.
• The law authorizes agencies to seize and confiscate the property of institutions involved in the commission of organized crime for proportionate recovery of the cost of the examination.
• The Act also states that an officer of the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police or Deputy Commissioner of Police will be responsible for investigating any complaint filed under the Act.

Need for the law

Over the past few years, question paper leaks and organized cheating have damaged the interests of thousands of students due to cancellation of tests and exams, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said while explaining the necessity and importance of the bill.

“In the recent past, many states had to cancel or were unable to declare the results of their public examinations due to the negative impact of unfair practices and means adopted by anti-social criminal elements. If not effectively prevented and deterred, these unjust practices will continue to endanger the future and careers of millions of aspiring young people of this country. In many cases, it has been observed that organized groups and mafia elements are involved. They deploy solver gangs, identity theft methods and engage in paper leaks. The bill is primarily aimed at deterring this type of nefarious elements,” he had said earlier.