The Bihar Assembly has passed a landmark bill aimed at addressing the rampant issues of question paper leaks and other malpractices in government recruitment examinations. The Bihar Public Examinations (PE) (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024, was approved on Wednesday amid a walkout by opposition members, following its presentation by State Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary.
The newly passed legislation seeks to tackle various forms of examination fraud, including the illegal leakage of question papers, which has recently drawn significant attention due to the NEET 2024 question paper leak controversy. The bill introduces stringent measures to ensure the integrity of competitive examinations in the state.
Under the provisions of the bill, individuals found guilty of engaging in examination-related malpractices will face severe penalties. The legislation prescribes prison sentences ranging from three to five years, along with substantial fines of up to Rs 10 lakh.
The Bihar government’s move reflects its commitment to enhancing transparency and fairness in the recruitment process, aiming to restore public confidence in the state’s examination systems. The bill’s passage marks a significant step toward addressing long-standing concerns over examination integrity and tackling corruption in the recruitment sector.