Amid nationwide protests over the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak and alleged irregularities in public examinations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday announced that the Centre will establish fast-track courts to ensure the expeditious trial and stringent punishment of those accused in examination paper leak cases.
The announcement came amid continued demonstrations by students across the country, including Delhi, demanding accountability for repeated examination irregularities and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
In a statement posted on X, the Prime Minister said that safeguarding the welfare and future of students remained the government’s highest priority. He stated that the government had decided to establish fast-track courts to ensure swift prosecution and strict penal action against those involved in paper leak offences.
He also said that the concerned authorities had been directed to take all necessary administrative and legal measures to operationalise the decision, adding that the move formed part of a series of initiatives aimed at protecting students’ interests. The Prime Minister further asserted that those attempting to jeopardise the future of the country’s youth would face strict legal consequences.
The announcement follows remarks made by the Prime Minister during the recent NDA Parliamentary Party meeting, where he reportedly described the NEET-UG paper leak as a grave offence against students and stated that the government had acted promptly after the incident surfaced.
According to the Centre, 13 persons have so far been arrested in connection with the alleged leak and have been sent to judicial custody. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju later conveyed that the Prime Minister had emphasised that examination paper leaks should not become an issue of partisan politics, describing them instead as a national concern requiring a collective response.
The Centre’s decision comes against the backdrop of sustained protests led by students and activists of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), an online satirical collective, at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar and other parts of the national capital. The demonstrators have alleged systemic failures in the conduct of public examinations, demanded accountability for repeated paper leaks, and sought the removal of the Union Education Minister.
The protests intensified after demonstrators attempted to march towards Parliament on July 20, during which police used tear gas and lathi-charge to disperse the crowd, triggering widespread criticism from opposition parties. Parliament has also witnessed repeated disruptions over the issue, although the government has agreed to hold a discussion on the NEET paper leak controversy and broader education reforms while maintaining that there is no proposal to remove the Education Minister.
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi criticised the Prime Minister’s announcement, alleging that the government itself had failed to protect the education system. He reiterated the Opposition’s demand for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, an apology to students, and action against those responsible for the alleged use of force against protesters.
Rahul Gandhi also renewed his allegation that there had been 152 paper leak incidents across the country during the past decade without any convictions, claiming that the repeated examination scandals had severely undermined India’s education system. Earlier this week, he had led a protest march towards the Prime Minister’s residence along with other opposition leaders, including Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav and Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi, before they were briefly detained by the police.
The government’s announcement follows the enactment of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, which criminalises organised examination malpractices, including question paper leaks. The legislation prescribes imprisonment of three to five years along with a fine of up to Rs 10 lakh for individuals found guilty of using unfair means, while those involved in organised paper leak syndicates face imprisonment ranging from five to ten years and a minimum fine of Rs 1 crore. Despite the statutory framework already being in force, the Centre has now proposed dedicated fast-track courts to expedite criminal trials arising from such offences.
However, the Centre has not yet disclosed details regarding the number of fast-track courts proposed, their territorial jurisdiction, the mechanism for their establishment, or the timeline for implementation. Ordinarily, fast-track courts are constituted by State Governments in consultation with the respective High Courts.
The issue is also pending before the Supreme Court, which recently heard a public interest litigation seeking the formulation of a standard operating procedure for investigating paper leak cases, time-bound investigations, and the establishment of fast-track courts for such offences. The Court expressed reservations regarding the wide-ranging nature of the reliefs sought and deferred further consideration of the matter. The latest announcement by the Prime Minister is therefore likely to assume significance in the ongoing judicial and legislative response to examination-related offences.
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