New Delhi, August 2, KNT: The Central Government has announced a series of enhanced punitive measures aimed at curbing examination fraud, significantly increasing fines, debarment periods and imprisonment for individuals and organizations involved in unfair practices in public examinations.
According to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), the revised provisions provide for substantially higher financial penalties and stricter criminal consequences to deter organised cheating, paper leaks and other examination-related offences.
Under the revised framework, the maximum fine for individual offenders has been increased from ₹10 lakh to ₹50 lakh, while the penalty for service providers involved in examination fraud has been enhanced from ₹1 crore to ₹5 crore.
The government has also doubled the debarment period for offenders from four years to eight years, preventing them from participating in public examinations during the period of disqualification.
In cases involving organised examination fraud, the minimum financial penalty has been raised sharply from ₹1 crore to ₹10 crore. The revised provisions also prescribe imprisonment of up to 10 years for serious offences.
The Centre said the stricter penalties are intended to protect the integrity, transparency and credibility of the country’s examination system and act as a strong deterrent against organized malpractice. [KNT]
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