Archive · 30 Jul 2026
India Tightens Exam Fraud Laws, Matches Global Standards
India has made it illegal to cheat on exams.
A new law says people who help cheat can go to jail for up to 10 years and pay a big fine.
The law was introduced by Minister Jitendra Singh after protests about cheating.
It is similar to rules in other countries like China, South Korea, France, the UK, and the US.
The law also says that people who cheat can lose their exam scores and be banned from future tests.
India amended the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, to impose up to 10 years imprisonment and a Rs 50 lakh fine for organized paper leaks.
The bill was introduced by Union Minister Jitendra Singh on July 27 after protests over exam irregularities that prompted former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation.
The amendment brings India in line with countries that criminalize exam fraud, including China (up to 7 years), South Korea (up to 5 years), France (up to 10 years), the UK (up to 10 years) and the US (up to 20 years).
Many jurisdictions also impose academic sanctions such as score cancellation, degree revocation and long‑term examination bans.
The law covers proxy candidates, organized cheating rings, AI‑enabled cheating devices and paper leaks.
- Who
- Union Minister Jitendra Singh
- What
- Amended law to punish exam fraud with up to 10 years imprisonment and Rs 50 lakh fine
- When
- July 27, 2026
- Where
- India
- Why
- To address exam irregularities and align with global standards
- Country
- India
- Bill
- Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026
- Maximum imprisonment
- 10 years
- Maximum fine
- Rs 50 lakh
- Key offences
- Organized paper leaks, proxy candidates, cheating rings
- International comparison
- China (7 years), South Korea (5 years), France (10 years), UK (10 years), US (20 years)