On 5th July 2024, Friday, the government of Maharashtra presented a new bill that seeks to combat malpractice during competitive examinations. This bill is named ‘The Maharashtra Competitive Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024’ and was moved by Shambhuraj Desai, minister and Shiv Sena leader while in the Legislative Assembly.
The proposed legislation states that any violation pertaining to competitive examination will be cognizable, non-bailable and non-compoundable. Offenders caught cheating in these exams would serve at minimum three years behind bars which can be extended up to five years plus fines as high as Rs. 10 Lakh. It also says that if one fails to pay the fine then he may go for imprisonment given under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023.
On June 21st Union government passed Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 targeting malpractice during competitive exams imposing a maximum jail term of ten years and fines up to ₹1 crore against person found guilty.
We should also know that if this bill goes through there are severe consequences awaiting them as service providers who facilitate such tests would be liable for costs incurred by the examination upto the tune of Rs1cr additionally they will not hold any other competitions for four years.
Key provisions within PUM Act will include things like; anti-disruption measures during exams, definition of roles among paper setters and investigative powers vested on officers equivalent or above rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police / Assistant Commissioner of Police.
This comes after reports emerged about irregularities witnessed in May’s National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate).
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde felicitated Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma and three other players and announced a cash reward of Rs11crore for winning the T20 World Cup by the team.
The announcement was made at the central hall of State Assembly where Mr. Sharma and three other players from Mumbai, including Suryakumar Yadav, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Shivam Dubey.
Similarly, he acknowledged contributions of support staff members Paras Mhambre and Arun Kanade through felicitating them.
