Former Punjab Education Minister Daljit Singh Cheema supports the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill 2026. He advocates for decentralizing exam conduct to reduce security risks, while experts suggest systemic reforms to the National Testing Agency to improve exam integrity.
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The proposed Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill 2026 is gaining attention as policy experts debate how to best secure India’s massive examination ecosystem. Former Punjab Education Minister Daljit Singh Cheema has voiced support for the bill’s goal of deterring exam-related malpractice, but he argues that legislative punishment alone may not be sufficient. Instead, he proposes a shift toward decentralization, suggesting that the current highly centralized systems are vulnerable to security breaches during the transport and handling of sensitive materials across India’s vast geography.
Proposed Cooperative Federalism Model
Cheema’s model advocates for a collaborative approach where the Union Government establishes unified national security standards, while individual states are given the authority to manage the actual conduct of examinations for local recruitments and state-level institutions. This structure aims to reduce the systemic pressure on central bodies by distributing the operational load. According to this view, such a change could enhance local accountability and help restore public confidence, provided that states follow strict standard operating procedures and implement regular, independent security audits.
Strengthening Systemic Oversight
Beyond the debate on centralization, other educational experts are focusing on the internal mechanics of national testing bodies. Dr. Varinder Bhatia, former Vice-Chairman of the Punjab School Education Board, has emphasized the need for deep systemic reform within the National Testing Agency. His recommendations include reducing the agency's reliance on private, outsourced service providers and increasing the number of permanent, specialized staff to oversee exam processes.
Experts are also advocating for a move toward hybrid or computer-based examination models to replace traditional paper-heavy methods, which are inherently more prone to leakage risks. Furthermore, suggestions have been made to introduce multi-stage testing and incorporate more school-based performance assessments. These reforms are intended to reduce the high-stakes pressure of single-day examinations while ensuring that new digital measures do not create disadvantages for students in areas with limited technological infrastructure. The legislative process will continue to be monitored for further amendments that balance punitive measures against the need for structural operational improvements.