The Bihar Assembly on Monday introduced a bill to curb unfair means in competitive examinations to bring “more transparency, impartiality and trustworthiness in the public examination system”.

The bill provides for three to 10 years of imprisonment and a fine of up to ₹1 crore for different types of convicts — individuals, service providers and organised groups. The proportionate cost of the exam would be recovered from them. The bill also has provisions for attachment and confiscation of property of organised criminals.

The Bihar Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024, envisages all such offences as cognisable, non-bailable and non-compoundable (the parties involved in the case cannot compromise).

A copy of the bill was circulated among the MLAs and MLCs. The Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council are expected to pass the bill later this week. It will become a law subject to the Bihar governor’s assent and subsequent notification in the state gazette.

The bill assumes significance in light of the recent paper leaks of various national- and state-level recruitment and entrance examinations, including the NEET-UG.

Chief minister Nitish Kumar on Monday said: “There is no specific, concrete law on people or institutions involved in adopting unfair means or committing crimes in public exams conducted by the state government and its agencies. Therefore, it is necessary to identify such elements and deal effectively with them through an extensive, state-level law.”