India passes paper leak bill, activist urges protection

Activist Sonam Wangchuk has welcomed the passage of new legislation aimed at curbing examination fraud in India, while simultaneously urging the government to honor its commitment to protect student protesters from legal action. His statement on July 30 came after Parliament passed the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, which strengthens penalties for paper leaks.

The legislative action follows a nationwide controversy over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG 2026 medical entrance exam, which triggered widespread student protests. Wangchuk, an education reform advocate, had undertaken a 26-day hunger strike in late June demanding systemic reforms. He ended the fast after receiving written assurances from the government, which included a promise of parliamentary action on examination reforms and a pledge that peaceful protesters would not face legal cases.

In a video message shared while traveling to Ladakh, Wangchuk described the new law as an encouraging beginning. He expressed hope it would lead to broader reforms ensuring transparency and fairness in public examinations. However, he directly appealed to the government to uphold its...