UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh Introduces the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 in Lok Sabha

Q1. Under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, the lowest police rank competent to investigate an offence punishable under the Act is that of:

  • A. Inspector of Police attached to the police station of jurisdiction
  • B. Superintendent of Police of the district in which the offence occurs
  • C. Deputy Superintendent of Police or Assistant Commissioner of Police
  • D. Sub-Inspector of Police in charge of the police station concerned

Q2. Which one of the following best describes the class of examinations to which the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 applies?

  • A. Any recruitment or entrance test held anywhere in India by a central, state or private body for appointment or admission
  • B. A test conducted by an authority specified in the Schedule to the Act or subsequently notified by the Central Government
  • C. Every computer-based test conducted in the country, without exception, for recruitment to a post under a public authority
  • D. Any test whose result alone determines admission to an institution wholly funded out of the Consolidated Fund of India

Q3. The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 provides for time-bound disposal of appeals. What exactly does this provision prescribe?

  • A. An appeal shall lie to the High Court within thirty days, and shall be disposed of within three months where that is feasible
  • B. An appeal shall lie to the Court of Session within sixty days, and shall be disposed of within six months of its admission
  • C. An appeal shall lie directly to the Supreme Court within ninety days, and shall be disposed of within one year of filing
  • D. An appeal shall lie to a departmental appellate tribunal within forty-five days, and be disposed of within ninety days

Q4. Consider the following statements regarding the changes proposed by the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 to the penal provisions of the parent Act of 2024: 1. The maximum fine imposable on an individual offender is proposed to be raised from ten lakh rupees to fifty lakh rupees. 2. The maximum period for which a service provider may be debarred from conducting any public examination is proposed to be extended from four years to eight years. 3. For organised examination crimes, the minimum term of imprisonment is proposed to be raised from five years to ten years. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The maximum fine imposable on an individual offender is proposed to be raised from ten lakh rupees to fifty lakh rupees.
  2. The maximum period for which a service provider may be debarred from conducting any public examination is proposed to be extended from four years to eight years.
  3. For organised examination crimes, the minimum term of imprisonment is proposed to be raised from five years to ten years.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q5. Consider the following statements comparing the passage of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 with the introduction of its Amendment Bill of 2026: 1. The Amendment Bill of 2026 was introduced in the Lok Sabha, the same House in which the parent Bill of 2024 was first introduced. 2. The parent Bill of 2024 was passed by the Rajya Sabha before the Lok Sabha took it up for consideration. 3. Both the parent Act and the Amendment Bill fall under the administrative charge of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Amendment Bill of 2026 was introduced in the Lok Sabha, the same House in which the parent Bill of 2024 was first introduced.
  2. The parent Bill of 2024 was passed by the Rajya Sabha before the Lok Sabha took it up for consideration.
  3. Both the parent Act and the Amendment Bill fall under the administrative charge of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q6. Which one of the following is the Ministry within whose administrative charge the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 falls?

  • A. The Ministry of Education, which administers the National Testing Agency
  • B. The Ministry of Home Affairs, which oversees the central police agencies
  • C. The Ministry of Law and Justice, through its Legislative Department
  • D. The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions

Q7. The Amendment Bill of 2026 requires investigation of an offence to be completed within two months and trial within three months of the filing of the charge sheet, and provides for Special Public Prosecutors to be attached to the designated courts. These requirements are contained in which one of the following provisions?

  • A. Section 9 of the parent Act, as substituted by the Amendment Bill
  • B. Section 12A, newly inserted by the Amendment Bill
  • C. Section 12B, newly inserted by the Amendment Bill
  • D. Section 11 of the parent Act, as substituted by the Amendment Bill

Q8. Under the penal scheme proposed by the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, the single highest maximum fine is prescribed for which one of the following categories of offenders?

  • A. Persons or institutions committing an organised examination crime
  • B. A service provider engaged by a public examination authority
  • C. A director or senior management person of a service provider
  • D. An individual who resorts to unfair means in a public examination

Q9. With reference to the alleged paper leak in the NEET (UG) 2026 examination and the official response to it, consider the following: 1. The Central Bureau of Investigation registered the case on a written complaint from the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education. 2. The first information report invoked offences under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 in addition to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Prevention of Corruption Act. 3. The examination in respect of which the documents were allegedly circulated in advance had been held on 3 May 2026. 4. The High Powered Steering Committee that monitors implementation of the recommendations on the National Testing Agency is chaired by the Director General of that Agency. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. The Central Bureau of Investigation registered the case on a written complaint from the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education.
  2. The first information report invoked offences under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 in addition to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Prevention of Corruption Act.
  3. The examination in respect of which the documents were allegedly circulated in advance had been held on 3 May 2026.
  4. The High Powered Steering Committee that monitors implementation of the recommendations on the National Testing Agency is chaired by the Director General of that Agency.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 3 and 4 only

Q10. The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 was not brought into operation immediately on its enactment; it was actually brought into force only around the time of the controversies over centrally conducted entrance examinations in mid-2024. On which of the following dates did the Act come into force?

  • A. 6 February 2024, the day the Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha
  • B. 9 February 2024, the day the Bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha
  • C. 12 February 2024, the day the Bill received the President's assent
  • D. 21 June 2024, by a notification issued by the Central Government

Q11. As per the designation under which he introduced the Amendment Bill in July 2026, Dr. Jitendra Singh holds which one of the following portfolios as Minister of State with Independent Charge?

  • A. Science and Technology, and Earth Sciences
  • B. Atomic Energy, and Space
  • C. Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
  • D. Prime Minister's Office, and Space

Q12. The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 is an ordinary Bill. If, after such a Bill is passed by one House and transmitted to the other, the second House neither passes nor rejects it, the President may summon a joint sitting of the two Houses only upon the lapse of:

  • A. three months from the date on which the Bill is laid before that House
  • B. six months from the date of receipt of the Bill by the other House
  • C. one year from the date on which the Bill was passed by the first House
  • D. the session of Parliament in which the Bill was received by that House