Bihar Assembly Passes Strict Anti-Paper Leak Bill Amid Opposition Walkout

The Bihar Assembly passed the Bihar Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024 to combat exam malpractices with a voice vote. Introduced by State Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, the bill includes harsh penalties for offenders, including 10 years of imprisonment and fines starting at Rs 1 crore.

The Bihar Assembly passed the Bihar Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024, on Wednesday, aiming to combat malpractices in government recruitment exams.

State Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, who introduced the legislation, said the bill was passed with a voice vote despite a walkout by the opposition. The bill proposes penalties including a minimum prison sentence of 10 years and a fine of at least Rs 1 crore for malpractices.

'There is a need to restore transparency and credibility in public examinations,' Chaudhary told reporters, adding that unfair practices harm the prospects of diligent students. The bill follows alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG, though the Supreme Court found no systemic breach in the 2024 exam.

(With inputs from agencies.)