Govt doing 'damage control': Cong on implementation of anti-paper leak law

The Centre's decision now to implement a law to prevent the use of unfair means in competitive examinations after several "scams" have taken place, including in the NEET-UG and the UGC-NET tests, is "damage control", Congress leader Jairam Ramesh claimed on Saturday.

This law was needed but it deals with question paper leaks and other irregularities after they have occurred, he claimed in a post on X.

Several opposition political parties and student associations, including the Congress, have held protests across the country over alleged irregularities in medical entrance exam NEET-UG and the UGC-NET.

Amid the raging row over the issue, the Centre on Friday operationalised the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, that aims to curb malpractices and irregularities in competitive examinations and entails provisions for a maximum jail term of 10 years and a fine of up to Rs 1 crore for offenders.

The Bill received the President's assent on February 13, but was ...