The amended law empowering states to set up fast-track courts for the speedy trial of those accused in paper leak cases, while also enhancing fines and prison terms, has received President Droupadi Murmu’s assent.In a gazette notification issued on July 31, the Law Ministry said President Murmu had given her assent to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, after it was passed by both Houses of Parliament earlier this week.The Act seeks to further strengthen the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, by providing for fast-tracked investigations, speedy trials through special fast-track courts, the appointment of special public prosecutors, time-bound disposal of appeals and stricter penal provisions aimed at deterring unfair practices and organised malpractices in public examinations.It also enhances the punishment for those resorting to unfair means by increasing the term of imprisonment to not less than five years, extendable up to 10 years, as against the existing provision of imprisonment for a term of not less than three years, extendable up to five years. The maximum fine has also been raised from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 50 lakh.Rahul, Pappu booked over temple theft skitLoP Rahul Gandhi and MPs Pappu Yadav and Awadhesh Prasad have been booked in Varanasi for allegedly hurting religious sentiments over their skit on the Ram Temple donation theft at Parliament complex.According to the Statement of Objects and Reasons, the amendment aims to bring greater transparency, fairness and credibility to the public examination system.“In recent years, there have been incidents of question paper leaks and malpractices in examinations conducted by public examination authorities, which have affected the transparency and fairness of the public examination system,” it states.The law also empowers states and Union Territories to appoint one or more special public prosecutors to conduct trials in such cases and mandates day-to-day hearings to ensure completion of trials within three months of the filing of the chargesheet.Amid nationwide protests, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 23 announced the establishment of fast-track courts and tougher legal penalties for examination paper leak cases.The law covers examinations conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Staff Selection Commission (SSC), Railway Recruitment Board (RRB), Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) and the National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts the NEET examination.