Public Examinations Amendment Act, 2026 Strengthens India’s Anti-Cheating Framework

On 31 July 2026, the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Act, 2026 became law after Parliament passed the government’s response to the examination-leak crisis. The amendment strengthened penalties and enforcement mechanisms for organised cheating and paper leaks, including provisions for special investigation arrangements, special courts and prosecutors, and faster adjudication. It represented the principal statutory response to the 2026 NEET-UG controversy and the youth protests that followed.