The Maharashtra State Legislative Council on Thursday, July 11, approved the Maharashtra Competitive Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024. This new law will strengthen the examination system by addressing exam malpractice directly.
Punishments related to exam cheating will now be non-bailable and non-compoundable. This decision follows a series of paper leak incidents in the state. These leaks have raised questions about the fairness of competitive exams.
The new law classifies offences related to competitive examinations as cognizable, non-compoundable, and non-bailable. Those found guilty of using unfair methods or committing other offences during exams will face a minimum of three years in jail, with the possibility of an additional two years.
Offenders may also face a fine of up to INR 10 lakh. Previously, the penalty was an INR 1,000 fine and a one-year sentence. A committee, led by Kishor Raje Nimbalkar, considered laws from other states and suggested these tougher penalties. Businesses involved in exam cheating will be blacklisted.
The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG), held on May 5, was affected by question paper leaks in Bihar. This scandal led to a huge public uproar.
The Ministry of Education responded by cancelling two other high-stakes exams: the University Grants Commission-National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET) and NEET (postgraduate). In response to public dissatisfaction and demands for tougher measures, the Maharashtra administration has now proposed this new legislation.
As per reports, the cheating network includes private coaching sessions and document leaks through advertisements. This creates unfair conditions for students from low-income backgrounds. Similar issues have been noted in rural areas.
To ensure strict compliance, a 200-metre restriction zone might be established around exam centres. The government may also expand these rules to other exams if necessary.
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