Minister of State for Personnel, Dr Jitendra Singh during debate on the anti-cheating legislation in Rajya Sabha today.
New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha today passed ‘The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024’ aimed at curbing leaks, cheating as well as organised malpractices in recruitment examinations like Union Public Service Commission, the Staff Selection Commission, and entrance tests such as NEET, JEE, and CUET.
The Bill, which has already been passed by the Lok Sabha, will now become a law after the President’s assent followed by the issue of notification.
Initiating the debate on the Bill in the Rajya Sabha today, Union Minister of State for Personnel and Incharge Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Dr Jitendra Singh stated that “The Public Exams Bill, which is possibly the first of its kind in the history of India’s Parliament, is dedicated to the youth of India”. He said this legislation seeks to address a very recent phenomenon affecting the youth.
Participating in the debate, Digvijay Singh of the Congress Party, said the Bill deals with a subject in the Concurrent List and called for its extension to States.
Dr Jitendra Singh countered Digvijay Singh by reminding him that at one time Education used to be a part of the State list and the then Congress Government had changed it over to the Concurrent list.
Replying to the debate, he said the Bill would ensure more transparency and a time-bound selection process and provide a level-playing field. The government will encourage the States to adopt the Bill, he said.
“Prevention of Unfair Means Bill, 2024” will also cover entrance examinations held by the Union Public Service Commission, the Staff Selection Commission, the Railways, banking recruitment examinations and all computer-based examinations conducted by the National Testing Agency.
The Minister said transparency and fairness have also been ensured by introducing online exams by UPSC, SSC and other recruitment agencies and the entire selection process has been reduced from one-to-two years to six-seven months.
– global bihari bureau
