Desk Report. February 05, 2024: In a bid to tackle cheating and other unfair means during examinations, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma tabled the Assam Public Examination Bill (Measures for Prevention of Unfair Means in Recruitment), 2024, on the first day of the budget session in the legislative assembly.
The newly introduced bill is aimed at curbing exam-time malpractices, with a particular focus on preventing the leaking of question papers. It proposes heavy punitive measures against cheating and other related activities. The government’s tough stance is a response to the significant issues faced by students during the previous academic year, especially concerning the High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) examinations.
Under the provisions of the bill, candidates appearing in examinations will be prohibited from unauthorized possession of question papers. Punishments will also be imposed for practices such as selling question papers and assisting candidates during examinations. Additionally, the bill mandates that the printing of question papers for examinations can only be done in government-authorized presses.
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The bill’s scope extends to all government-conducted examinations, including those conducted by the Assam Public Service Commission (APSC), Gauhati High Court, State Level Recruitment Commission (SLRC), HSLC, Assam Higher Secondary Education Council (AHSEC), Teacher Eligibility Test (TET), and more. The objective is to ensure the integrity of examinations and maintain a fair and transparent process.
