Beyond punishment: Restoring the soul of India’s examination system

The passage of the Public Examinations Amendment Bill, 2026, marks an important attempt to restore public confidence. But the legislation will achieve its purpose only if it becomes part of a broader reform agenda that strengthens institutions, embraces technology, and rebuilds trust in the integrity of public examinations

“The future of a nation is not stolen only on the battlefield; sometimes it is stolen silently, in a room where a question paper is sold before the examination begins.”

Every year, millions of young Indians walk into examination halls carrying more than admit cards. They carry the dreams of parents who sacrificed comforts, teachers who nurtured hope, and a nation that believes education remains the fairest path to opportunity. For many families, a single examination is not merely a test-it is the turning point of generations.

Yet, when a question paper is leaked, something far greater than an examination is compromised. It is not merely the sanctity of a test that is broken; it is the faith of honest students, the dignity of public institutions, and the moral promise of our Republic.

The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, passed by both Houses of Parliament during the Monsoon Session 2026, is therefore more than an amendment to the law enacted in 2024. It serves as an affirmation that the dreams of India’s youth are not commodities to be bought and sold. It is a national resolve that merit shall never again become the victim of organised crime.

For too long, irregularities in the examination process have been treated as isolated incidents. In truth, every paper leak is an organised assault on justice. Behind every leaked question paper lies a chain of corruption-brokers, middlemen, technology experts, dishonest officials, organised criminal syndicates, and those who profit from the desperation of students. As noted by the K Radhakrishnan-led Committee of Experts, established in 2024, vulnerabilities exist throughout the entire testing cycle that have been exploited for a long time.

History teaches us an uncomfortable truth. The crisis before us did not arise overnight, nor is it the failure of any one government or one institution. Successive governments, across decades, struggled with recurring weaknesses in examination security, investigation, and accountability. Institutions often reacted after the damage had already been done. Criminals learnt that the rewards were enormous while the risks remained limited. Such softness emboldened organised networks whose only objective was profit, regardless of the shattered futures they left behind. The world now watches India not merely as the largest democracy but as a rising knowledge economy. Every examination scandal echoes beyond our borders, raising questions about the credibility of our educational institutions. A nation aspiring to lead in science, technology, medicine and innovation cannot afford uncertainty in the very examinations that identify its future talent.

For this reason, stronger punishment is both necessary and justified. Those who organise paper leaks are not committing ordinary offences; they are committing crimes against the future of the nation.

It has been observed that, in many recent cases, leaks have come to light after citizens, including whistleblowers and teachers/professors, found that some copies of papers already in circulation matched exactly with the papers that were used in the examination. The inability of the testing agencies and concerned authorities to identify irregularities reflects key gaps in the internal detection machinery of examination authorities. A revamped, dedicated vigilance wing must be created in all public examination bodies. It should be manned by permanent staff, with adequate safeguards against conflicts of interest.

A law that punishes criminals but ignores institutional shortcomings remains incomplete. Accountability must extend beyond the accused to every authority entrusted with protecting public examinations.

The National Testing Agency and every examination-conducting body must become institutions that are transparent, answerable, and willing to learn from every mistake. After every major examination, they should publish an Examination Integrity Report explaining what worked, what failed, what vulnerabilities were identified, and how those weaknesses will be permanently corrected. The Government should also take the necessary steps to bring the National Testing Agency within the scope of statutory audits by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).

The Ministry of Education must also complete an equally important responsibility. Numerous expert bodies-including the K Radhakrishnan Committee, the Justice AK Ranjan Committee, parliamentary committees, and ministerial panels-have invested immense intellectual effort in examining examination reforms. Their recommendations should not remain confined to government files. A comprehensive Action Taken Report detailing which recommendations have been implemented must be placed before both Houses of Parliament for perusal by elected representatives. The greatest lesson emerging from these committees is that technology should become our strongest ally.

In the twenty-first century, we trust technology with our banking, our taxation, our passports, our digital identities, and even the conduct of elections. It is therefore legitimate to ask: why should millions of high-stakes examinations continue to rely predominantly on vulnerable paper-based systems when safer technological alternatives are available?

India must gradually embrace secure computer-based testing wherever infrastructure permits. Artificial intelligence, encrypted digital transmission, blockchain-enabled audit trails, biometric authentication, cyber-security monitoring, and real-time digital surveillance should become the guardians of examination integrity. Technology cannot eliminate every risk, but it can make organised fraud extraordinarily difficult and far easier to detect. A strong forensic infrastructure is indispensable for the effective investigation and prosecution of paper leak offences, as modern examination fraud is increasingly orchestrated through digital means rather than conventional physical methods. However, technology alone cannot solve an educational problem whose roots lie much deeper. The dependence of students on expensive private coaching reflects another challenge. When success in national entrance examinations appears impossible without years of coaching, it raises serious questions about the strength of our school education system.

Low government investment in education remains a critical structural challenge in India, with combined Union and State spending hovering around 4.1% of GDP-falling well short of the long-standing 6% target recommended by various panels.

Government schools must once again become centres of academic excellence through sustained investment in enhancing their competitiveness. Science education at the higher secondary level should be modernised, laboratories strengthened, and teachers continuously trained in contemporary teaching methods.

Private coaching centres undoubtedly support many students, but their rapid expansion also demands responsible regulation. Perhaps the most overlooked voices in examination reform are those who experience the system first-hand. Students know where fear exists. Parents understand the emotional burden of uncertainty. Teachers witness the strengths and weaknesses of the process from within. Their collective wisdom should become part of public policy.

Ultimately, no reform can succeed without leadership.

Leadership is not measured only by authority during moments of success; it is measured by responsibility during moments of failure. Accountability should never be viewed as blame. It is the foundation upon which public trust is rebuilt.

India’s youth deserve more than promises. They deserve an examination system where preparation matters more than privilege, honesty triumphs over manipulation, and merit is never defeated by money or influence.

The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, passed by both Houses of Parliament during the Monsoon Session 2026, is therefore more than an amendment to the law enacted in 2024. It serves as an affirmation that the dreams of India’s youth are not commodities to be bought and sold. It is a national resolve that merit shall never again become the victim of organised crime

The writer is a Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha (Assam); Views presented are personal.