India to increase penalties for exam leaks after Cockroach party protests

What the report says

Al Jazeera, citing AFP, reported that India’s upper house of parliament has approved legislation to sharply increase punishment for examination paper leaks, following weeks of youth-led demonstrations over alleged cheating and irregularities in major tests. The bill passed the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, July 30, 2026, after clearing the lower house the previous day, and now awaits President Droupadi Murmu’s signature.

The measure would raise the maximum prison term for people involved in exam leaks from five years to 10 years and increase the top fine to more than $1 million. Junior minister Jitendra Singh, who has been involved in talks with protesters, told lawmakers the issue affected families across the country because of the stakes attached to young people’s education.

The parliamentary action followed mass protests led by the online Cockroach Janta Party movement, which drew broad student participation and became a significant political challenge for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. The unrest culminated in the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday, according to the report. A Reuters photo cited by Al Jazeera showed CJP supporters in Mumbai celebrating his departure on July 26.

Al Jazeera reported that paper leaks have been a persistent problem in both national and state examinations despite past crackdowns. Indian media, as referenced in the report, said a federal investigative agency charged 13 people in connection with the leak of a national medical entrance examination earlier this year. The protests also saw clashes in New Delhi on July 20, when police used tear gas and batons as crowds tried to move toward parliament.