Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has voiced strong concerns about the government's new bill aimed at curbing exam paper leaks in India. Speaking in the Lok Sabha during the debate on The Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill-2026, Tharoor argued that simply imposing harsher punishments is insufficient. Instead, he emphasized the need to prevent leaks from happening and called for a comprehensive reform of the country's examination system.
Understanding the Current Examination Challenges
India's examination system is often criticized for its high-pressure, single-exam format, where millions of students’ futures hinge on a few hours of testing. Tharoor highlighted that this model creates immense stress and leaves students vulnerable to unfair practices like paper leaks. He pointed out that leaks not only undermine the integrity of exams but also rob hardworking students of their rightful opportunities.
Tharoor also noted that exam security is a complex issue that extends beyond the moment a sealed question paper is opened. It involves multiple stages including question-setting, moderation, translation, digitization, printing, and distribution. Each stage requires stringent security measures and digital audit trails to prevent unauthorized access. He stressed the importance of a robust cybersecurity framework to safeguard these processes.
Key Points About the Anti-Paper Leak Bill and Its Limitations
- The bill proposes severe penalties for paper leaks, including up to 10 years imprisonment and fines of Rs 10 crore.
- It mandates investigations to be completed within two months and trials within three months, with special fast-track courts to handle cases.
- Tharoor questioned the feasibility of these timelines, citing that in 2025, fast-track courts registered 1.44 lakh new cases but disposed of only 66,500, leaving a backlog of 2.46 lakh cases.
- He raised concerns about the lack of adequate judges, prosecutors, and forensic resources to ensure swift justice.
- The bill includes the creation of a Special Task Force, but details about its composition, qualifications, and operational guidelines remain unclear.
- Tharoor criticized the National Testing Agency (NTA), responsible for conducting 14 major exams, for having only 39 permanent staff, with 15 vacancies, which he said is insufficient for managing exams that affect millions.
Why Exam Reform Is Essential Beyond Punishment
Tharoor argued that the focus should shift from punishing offenders after leaks occur to preventing leaks altogether. He emphasized that the success of any law should be measured by the number of leaks that never happen, timely exams, trustworthy results, and accountable institutions.
He also highlighted the intense competition in exams like NEET, where over 22 lakh candidates vie for roughly 1.4 lakh medical seats. This imbalance fuels coaching centers and a black market for unfair advantages. Tharoor called for expanding quality educational institutions and creating multiple pathways to professional education so that one exam does not determine a young person's entire future.
Ultimately, Tharoor urged the government to dismantle cheating networks but also to build a system that makes cheating difficult in the first place. He stressed that the examination system must evolve to reduce stress and ensure fairness for all students.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the main criticism Shashi Tharoor has about the anti-paper leak bill?
A: Tharoor believes the bill focuses too much on punishment after leaks occur rather than preventing leaks from happening in the first place. He calls for a broader reform of the examination system.
Q: Why does Tharoor think the current examination system is problematic?
A: He points out that the system is high-stakes and stressful, with a single exam deciding students’ futures. This creates pressure and opportunities for unfair practices like paper leaks.
Q: What changes does Tharoor suggest for improving exam security?
A: He recommends securing every stage of the exam process, from question-setting to distribution, implementing digital audit trails, enhancing cybersecurity, and increasing permanent staffing at agencies like the NTA.
