Explore the Public Examinations Act, 2024—India’s legal response to exam cheating, paper leaks, and unfair practices. Learn key provisions, challenges, and reforms.
theIASHub | 06 Jun, 2025 | 3021
The Public Examinations Act, 2024 is a landmark step towards reforming India’s examination landscape. It comes at a critical time when increasing instances of paper leaks, corruption, and unfair practices have disrupted the dreams of millions of students. This Act is not just a legal response but a necessary framework to safeguard the sanctity of public exams and restore trust in recruitment and admission processes.
Over the last five years, more than 48 incidents of question paper leaks have been reported in 16 states, directly impacting government recruitment and public confidence. These leaks have led to delays, exam cancellations, and deepened uncertainty among candidates. The Public Examinations Act, 2024 seeks to eliminate such challenges by setting strict legal standards for transparency and accountability.
Before the Public Examinations Act, 2024, there was no specific legal provision addressing organized cheating, impersonation, or digital tampering in public exams. The new law fills this gap and aims to deter unfair practices by enforcing harsh penalties and clear definitions.
The Act defines a Public Examination as any test conducted by an authority listed in the Act’s schedule or notified by the Central Government. This definition ensures all significant exams fall under the Act’s jurisdiction, from UPSC to SSC and state-level bodies.
These strong deterrents form the backbone of the Public Examinations Act, 2024, ensuring effective enforcement and fear of consequences.
The Public Examinations Act, 2024 proposes the creation of a National Technical Committee on Public Examinations. This committee will guide the development of secure IT systems, define national standards, and suggest reforms. However, concerns remain about the lack of clarity in the committee's composition and mandate, which must be addressed for better accountability.
The Act serves as a model law for states, enabling them to adopt or modify it to suit their regional needs. However, the discretionary powers given to states might lead to inconsistent implementation, weakening its overall impact unless there is strong central coordination.
While the Public Examinations Act, 2024 is strong in spirit, certain punishment provisions could be legally challenged for violating natural justice principles. The non-bailable and non-compoundable nature of all offenses could be contested as excessive or disproportionate.
The law lacks details on the technical composition of the National Committee and how it will ensure digital safety. There is also a need to train invigilators, develop whistleblower mechanisms, and foster exam ethics to ensure that the law succeeds in practice.
To support and enhance the Public Examinations Act, 2024, several reforms should be implemented:
A central authority to oversee all examinations, define national security standards, and audit practices periodically.
Move toward computer-based, on-demand exams, like GRE, to reduce logistic burdens and limit leak windows.
Use blockchain for secure storage and tracking of question papers to ensure that tampering is impossible.
Lower the student-to-invigilator ratio, use AI-based surveillance, and track exam centers in real-time.
Incorporate continuous assessment, interviews, and project work to reduce reliance on high-stakes, single-day exams.
Conduct regular workshops on ethics for students and staff to create a culture of honesty in examinations.
The Union Territory of Ladakh recently achieved complete functional literacy under the ULLAS-Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram, impacting over 97% of its adult population.
This complements the Public Examinations Act, 2024 by promoting a fair and literate society, where everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed based on merit.
The Public Examinations Act, 2024 is a crucial step toward a fair, transparent, and accountable examination system in India. While the law sets strong legal precedents, it must be supported by technological adoption, cultural change, and institutional reform. Through strict enforcement and stakeholder cooperation, India can protect the aspirations of its youth and ensure that hard work, not malpractice, determines success.
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