India to fast-track exam-fraud trials with new amendment bill

The legislative push follows weeks of nationwide protests over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG medical entrance exam. Student groups and opposition parties have demanded accountability and reforms. The monsoon session of Parliament, which began July 20, has been largely washed out by the controversy.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a late-night video message on X that the cabinet would take up the draft amendment. The cabinet approved the changes on Friday. Modi also announced a high-powered task force to recommend broader reforms to the examination system.

"Those who played with the future of students are rotting in jails. We have established fast-track courts; in Parliament too, tomorrow we are moving towards making a new law with tough provisions. But we have to think of the future," the PM said on social media. The task force will focus on making the system "reliable, transparent and uses technology to the maximum."

The NDA has lined up several young MPs to speak on the bill. From the BJP, Bansuri Swaraj and Tejasvi Surya will participate. Other expected speakers include JDU's Alok Kumar Suman, TDP's Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu, Shiv Sena's Shrikant Shinde, NCP's Sunil Tatkare, Apna Dal's Anupriya Patel, LJP (Ram Vilas)'s Arun Bharti, and allies Sharmila Sarkar and Mitali Bagh.

The bill comes a day after Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as education minister. The government's ability to pass the amendment will test its effort to restore confidence in national testing agencies.