Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday called for a stronger focus on preventing examination paper leaks rather than only increasing punishments for those responsible. Speaking during a debate in the Lok Sabha on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, Tharoor said the government must address weaknesses in the examination system to ensure that students’ futures are not determined by a single compromised attempt. Tharoor, the Lok Sabha MP from Thiruvananthapuram, said that millions of students appearing for competitive examinations such as NEET, UGC-NET and JEE invest years of preparation, financial resources and personal sacrifices in pursuit of their goals.

He highlighted that students enter examination halls carrying not just admit cards but also the expectations of their families and the results of years of hard work. "We are here because the system is broken and we must fix it," Tharoor said during the parliamentary debate. He argued that while strict action against individuals involved in paper leaks is necessary, the larger objective should be creating a system where such incidents are prevented through stronger safeguards, transparency and accountability mechanisms. The Congress leader said paper leaks have consequences far beyond the immediate examination process, affecting students who often spend years preparing for highly competitive tests.

He pointed out that many families make significant sacrifices to support their children’s education, including spending savings on coaching, study materials and living expenses in cities away from home. Tharoor emphasised that examination security should be strengthened through systemic reforms rather than relying only on punitive measures after violations occur. He suggested that authorities must examine how confidential examination material is protected, how information networks are monitored and how accountability is ensured at every stage of the examination process.

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The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, which was discussed in the Lok Sabha, seeks to strengthen penalties for unfair practices, including paper leaks and other examination-related offences. The legislation comes amid growing concerns over irregularities in major competitive examinations and demands from students for greater transparency and reliability in the examination system. The debate on the bill comes after several high-profile allegations of examination malpractice triggered protests and political discussions across the country.

Student groups have repeatedly called for stronger safeguards to protect the integrity of competitive examinations, which determine access to medical, engineering and government job opportunities. Tharoor said the government’s priority should be ensuring that students can participate in examinations with confidence that their efforts will be judged fairly. He stressed that protecting the credibility of the examination system is essential for maintaining public trust and safeguarding the aspirations of millions of young Indians seeking educational and career opportunities.

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