The Government of India has formally introduced the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill 2026 in the Lok Sabha today. This legislative move is a significant step towards curbing the menace of paper leaks and ensuring the integrity of competitive examinations across the country. Union Minister Jitendra Singh was entrusted with the responsibility of presenting this crucial legislation in the lower house of Parliament, while the introduction of the bill has sparked discussions, particularly regarding why Jitendra Singh presented it instead of the Education Minister, Pralhad Joshi.
The Role of Jitendra Singh and the DoPT
Dr. Jitendra Singh, a doctor by profession, has been a long-standing member of the government, handling vital portfolios such as the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), while there are two primary reasons why the government chose him to lead the presentation of this bill. Firstly, the scope of this law extends far beyond entrance exams like NEET, JEE, or CUET. It encompasses major national-level recruitment examinations conducted by bodies such as the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Staff Selection Commission (SSC), Railways, and Banking sectors. The administrative and oversight responsibility for these recruitment bodies falls under the DoPT, which is headed by Jitendra Singh. It's noteworthy that he was also the one who presented the original Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill in 2024. Given his previous involvement and the jurisdictional relevance of his ministry, he was the natural choice to introduce the 2026 amendment.
Pralhad Joshi's New Responsibility
The second reason pertains to the current administrative workload within the Education Ministry. Pralhad Joshi was recently assigned the additional charge of the Ministry of Education following the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan, while on the day the bill was scheduled for introduction, Pralhad Joshi was occupied with the Question Hour and other pressing administrative preparations related to the Education Ministry in the Lok Sabha. To ensure the smooth progression of the legislative agenda, the task of moving the Anti-Paper Leak Bill was delegated to Dr. Jitendra Singh, while pralhad Joshi took over the ministry after Dharmendra Pradhan resigned following protests at Jantar Mantar. This change in leadership comes at a time when the Indian education system is undergoing major transformations, including the implementation of the National Education Policy 2020 and the introduction of a new curriculum for schools. The government expects that Pralhad Joshi's experience will accelerate these reforms. Upon taking charge, Joshi stated that he would strive to fulfill the expectations of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
High Power Task Force and Parliamentary Deadlock
In line with the promise made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to GenZ on July 23, a High Power Task Force has been constituted under the leadership of Nandan Nilekani. On top of that, fast-track courts have been established following the Prime Minister's orders to handle cases related to examination malpractices. Despite the introduction of the new bill in the Lok Sabha, discussions have been stalled due to opposition protests. The opposition is demanding a discussion on the issue of alleged assaults on students before taking up the bill. Consequently, the proceedings of the Lok Sabha were adjourned multiple times today—first until 12 PM, then until 2 PM, and finally until 5 PM. Speaker Om Birla has provided a 3-hour window for all parties to reach a consensus, leaving only 2 hours for the government and the opposition to find common ground.