MP Raghav Chadha Defends New Anti-Paper Leak Legislation in Parliament

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha on Thursday voiced strong support for the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, saying the concerns raised by students over paper leaks were genuine and required systemic reforms rather than political rhetoric. Speaking during the debate in the Rajya Sabha, Chadha said the government had responded to the issue by introducing structural changes aimed at protecting the integrity of public examinations and safeguarding students' futures.

Addressing criticism over his earlier silence on the issue, Chadha said his role had changed from being on the Opposition benches to serving on the Treasury benches, where he believed it was his responsibility to help resolve problems through policy measures. He asserted that whenever issues concerning students had been raised, the Union government had listened and acted. He also highlighted steps such as the gradual shift towards computerised examinations and stricter legal provisions to curb organised paper leak rackets.

During his speech, Chadha argued that examination leaks could not be eliminated through "media sound-bites" alone and instead required robust institutional mechanisms. Comparing the issue to treating a serious illness, he said meaningful reforms were essential to restore public confidence. He also described the sacrifices made by students and their families, many of whom spend significant resources and relocate to coaching hubs such as Kota, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Delhi and Patna in pursuit of competitive examination success.

Also Read: Authorities Suspend Mobile Internet Around Jantar Mantar Till Midnight

The Rajya Sabha MP recalled his own experience as a Chartered Accountancy student and said he understood the emotional and financial impact that paper leaks have on aspirants. He also referred to previous examination leak incidents under Congress governments in Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh, including the SSLC examination leak in 2026 and the Class 12 Chemistry paper leak in 2016. While acknowledging the right of students to protest peacefully, Chadha maintained that such demonstrations should remain independent and should not be politicised by any political party.

Highlighting the key provisions of the proposed legislation, Chadha said the Bill treats paper leaks as crimes committed by organised syndicates rather than isolated individuals. The law covers coaching mafias, printing press personnel, logistics handlers, examination officials and solver gangs, with penalties including fines of up to Rs 10 crore. It also proposes that offences be treated as cognisable, non-bailable and non-compoundable, while mandating investigations by a special task force and expediting trials through fast-track courts. He concluded that the reforms reflected the government's zero-tolerance approach towards paper leaks and its commitment to protecting the interests of students.

Also Read: Leh Airport Authorities Arrest IndiGo Engineer In Alleged Heroin Possession Case