Central government gave information about anti-paper leak law, ordered NRA to prepare strict rules

The entire nation is outraged over rigging in NEET-UG examinations. Equally, the opposition has also come out in the open against the central government over this issue. Meanwhile, the central government has given information about the rules of the anti-paper leak law, which came into effect recently after notification.

The central government ordered the NRA to prepare guidelines relating to computer-based examinations. Besides this, NRA has been instructed to formulate rules regarding pre-examination, during-examination, and post-examination activities. Online tests for screening of the examinees have also been ordered to be conducted by NRA.

The new rules have made provisions for allowing the Public Examination Authority space to avail of the services of serving or retired employees in any government organization. It has been learned that the successful holding of examinations by the Public Examination Authority can be followed up with the formation of a committee headed by a joint secretary-level officer. This committee can comprise a senior officer along with the nominated officer from the Public Examination Authority.

This Act, as stated earlier, has been put into effect to prevent manipulability in the examinations concerning the Public Service Commission, UPSC, Staff Selection Commission, SSC, Railways, Banking Recruitment Examinations, and National Testing Agency, NTA. Ever since this amendment was made under the said Act, there has been a provision of jail term extendable up to 10 years or a fine of Rs 1 crore in case of leaking of paper proven.

Under this Act, any leakage of the paper or tampering with the answer sheet shall attract a minimum imprisonment of three years, extendable to five years, with a fine of up to 10 lakhs. On failure to pay the fine, additional punishment in prison as per the provisions under the Indian Justice Code, 2023, shall be awarded.

Failure to comply with this Act shall attract a penalty on the service provider appointed to conduct the examination, which may extend to Rs. 1 crore. If the service provider is found indulging in illegal activities, the cost of the examination will be recovered from him. Also, the service provider is disallowed from the responsibility to conduct any public examination for a continuous period of 4 years. If an institution is involved in the commission of an organized crime, its property will be liable for attachment and confiscation and the cost of the investigation to the proportionate extent will also be recovered from it.

This is the first legislation at the national level to deal with rigging in recruitment examinations conducted by various organizations. On February 9 this year, the Rajya Sabha passed the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill. After that, this bill was approved in the Lok Sabha on February 6. The President of India, Draupadi Murmu, assented to the bill on February 12 and made this bill a law.