Shiromani Akali Dal MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal said the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 [1], will not stop paper leaks on its own.
The statement highlights a critical gap between passing laws and achieving results in India's struggling examination system. While the government seeks to penalize malpractice, lawmakers argue that systemic vulnerabilities remain unaddressed.
Speaking during the Parliament Monsoon Session in the Lok Sabha in New Delhi, Badal welcomed the introduction of the legislation. However, she cautioned that the legal framework is only one part of the solution. "The bill is fine, but it alone won't end paper leaks," Badal said.
Badal emphasized that the fight against examination fraud requires more than just a new set of rules. She called for a comprehensive approach that combines the new law with a commitment to systemic change, one that ensures the integrity of the testing process from the printing press to the exam hall.
According to Badal, the government must focus on the execution of these laws to see a real impact on the ground. "Legislation alone will not eliminate paper leaks; we need concrete reforms and stronger implementation," she said.
The debate comes amid ongoing concerns regarding the security of high-stakes public examinations. The 2026 amendment bill [1] aims to provide a more robust legal deterrent against those who leak papers or facilitate cheating, but critics suggest that without administrative overhaul, the leaks will persist.
“The bill is fine, but it alone won't end paper leaks.”
This critique suggests that the Indian government's approach to exam fraud is primarily punitive rather than preventative. By focusing on an Amendment Bill, the state is increasing the cost of the crime through legal penalties, but the SAD MP's position indicates that the underlying administrative failures—such as poor digital security or internal corruption—cannot be solved by legislation alone.
