After UP, Now Maharashtra To Introduce Anti-Paper Leak Law, Announces Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced on Monday (1 July) that the state government will introduce a law to combat paper leaks in competitive exams during the ongoing Monsoon Session of the legislature.

This announcement comes in background of similar law being introduced by Uttar Pradesh to combat the menace of paper leaks.

Fadnavis also addressed concerns about misinformation being spread by certain groups and individuals regarding paper leaks.

Fadnavis stated, “This government, in its span of only two years, has successfully undertaken the recruitment to one lakh posts. This is a continuous process and it will continue in future as well. Certain groups and individuals are spreading a fake narrative about paper leaks.”

He further added, "It is important to take action against them, as it demotivates thousands of students who honestly prepare for the exams.”

He made these comments in response to queries raised by the opposition during the question hour session. The Monsoon Session began on 27 June and will continue until 12 July.

Fadnavis clarified that the only FIR related to the recruitment of ‘talathi’ (revenue department officials responsible for maintaining village accounts) in Maharashtra concerned incorrect answers being set and was not a case of leak.

Opposition Nationalist Congress Party (NCP-SP) MLA Rohit Pawar questioned whether the government planned to introduce a law against paper leaks in Maharashtra.

Fadnavis responded, “We said in the Winter Session that we would bring in the act. The delegations of students have also met us and the chief minister is also positive about it. While the Centre’s law will also be used in Maharashtra, the state government will also bring its own act against the paper leak in this session.”

In June, the Centre notified the rules to operationalise The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, an anti-cheating law passed by Parliament in February.