Maharashtra Competitive Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 passed by State Assembly
Mumbai. The Maharashtra State Assembly passed the Maharashtra Competitive Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, on Wednesday to prevent unfair means in competitive exams, with a provision of imprisonment for up to five years. Maharashtra Minister Shambhuraje Desai had tabled the bill in the Assembly on 28th of June.
As per the bill, an offence under this act shall be punished with imprisonment for three years, which may extend up to five years, and with a fine of up to 10 lakh rupees. The service provider shall be liable to be punished with a fine of up to one crore rupees, and the proportionate cost of the exam shall be recovered, with the provider being barred for four years.
The Union government on June 21 enacted the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, which targets malpractice in competitive exams, imposing a maximum jail term of 10 years and fines up to ₹1 crore for those found guilty.
The bill, introduced in the Lower House of the State legislation, also stipulates that service providers facilitating the exams could be fined up to ₹1 crore and held accountable for the costs associated with the examination. Furthermore, these providers would be prohibited from conducting any competitive exams for four years.
Key provisions of the Maharashtra Competitive Examination (PUM) Act include measures to prevent disruptions during exams, defining the responsibilities of paper setters, and granting investigative authority to officers of at least the rank of deputy superintendent of police or assistant commissioner of police.
