Why in News?
Prime Minister Modi constituted a six member high powered task force headed by Nandan Nilekani to recommend steps to secure India’s examination system, as the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 is set to be introduced in Parliament.
Key Highlights
- The task force is headed by Nandan Nilekani and includes S. Somanath, Tapan Deka, V. Kamakoti, Anita Karwal, and Amrit Lal Meena.
- It has been tasked with recommending measures to make the public examination system leak proof, transparent, secure, and technology driven.
- The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 is scheduled to be introduced during the Monsoon Session of Parliament.
- The proposed reforms seek to strengthen exam security, digital monitoring, accountability, and integrity in recruitment and entrance examinations.
- Pralhad Joshi has assumed additional charge as Union Education Minister following the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan.
Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024
- Enacted to prevent unfair practices such as paper leaks, impersonation, and organised cheating in public examinations.
- Covers examinations conducted by bodies such as: UPSC, SSC, RRBs, NTA, IBPS, and Other notified central recruitment agencies
- Prescribes:
- Imprisonment of 3 to 5 years and a fine up to ₹10 lakh for individuals involved in unfair means.
- Imprisonment of 5 to 10 years and a fine of at least ₹1 crore for organised paper leak syndicates.
- Offences are cognizable, non-bailable, and non-compoundable.
[2024, GS2, 15 marks] What are the aims and objects of the recently passed and enforced, The Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024? Whether University/State Education Board examinations, too, are covered under the Act?”
[2018] Consider the following statements:
- As per the right to education (RTE) Act, to be eligible for appointment as a teacher in a state, a person would be required to possess the minimum qualification laid down by the concerned State council of Teacher education.
- As per the RTE Act, for teaching primary classes, a candidate is required to pass a Teacher Eligibility Test conducted in accordance with the National Council of Teacher Education guidelines
- In India, more than 90 % of teacher education institutions are directly under the State Governments.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[A] 1 and 2
[B] 2 only
[C] 1 and 3
[D] 3 only