Centre Unveils Anti-Leak Bill and Nilekani-Led Task Force to Reform National Exams

The Union government has introduced the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, in Parliament to combat systemic examination fraud. This legislation proposes severe penalties for those orchestrating paper leaks, including jail terms between five and 10 years and fines ranging from ₹50 lakh to ₹10 crore. The bill aims to plug loopholes in the 2024 Act and mandates the creation of fast-track courts in every state to ensure investigations conclude within two months, reflecting an urgent effort to restore public trust in assessments like NEET-UG and UGC-NET.

Complementing these legal changes, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a six-member task force led by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani to overhaul the National Testing Agency (NTA). The panel includes experts like former ISRO chief S Somanath, IIT Madras director V Kamakoti, and former Intelligence Bureau head Tapan Deka, alongside Anita Karwal and Amrit Lal Meena. This multidisciplinary group is tasked with developing tamper-proof digital infrastructure and recommending technological solutions to secure competitive testing environments against vulnerabilities.

These moves follow a massive 36-day agitation by the Cockroach Janta Party at Jantar Mantar and a 26-day fast by activist Sonam Wangchuk, who recently ended his protest after government assurances. The crisis reached a boiling point with the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, amid pressure from the INDIA bloc regarding student grievances. While protests have officially concluded, security remains tight in Delhi as the government pivots to legislative reform and the implementation of digital-first testing, marking a significant milestone for India's educational landscape.