The Chhattisgarh Assembly on Friday (March 20, 2026) unanimously passed a bill to curb the use of unfair means in public examinations conducted for recruitment and admission to colleges in the state.
Titled “Chhattisgarh (Lok Bharti evam Vyavsayik Parikshao me Anuchit Sadhano ki Roktham) Vidheyak, 2026”, the legislation came amid scrutiny of some recruitment processes by the Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission in recent years.
“Candidates who are found guilty of misconduct will have their results withheld and will be banned from participating in public examinations for a minimum of one year, with the possibility of an extension of up to three calendar years,” the bill said.
The bill also provided for imprisonment of up to 10 years and fines of up to ₹1 million for specific violations. However, candidates would not be permanently disqualified from future examinations or public employment after the period of prohibition has expired.
For non-candidates involved in such offences, the Act prescribed severe punishments, including imprisonment ranging from three to 10 years and a fine of up to ₹10 lakh.
“Violations such as unauthorized possession or publication of question papers, illegal entry into examination centres, misuse of seats or tampering with assessment records will attract imprisonment of one to five years and fines of up to ₹5 lakh,” it said.
Service providers and institutions found guilty face a fine of up to ₹1 million, payment of examination costs commensurate with their involvement and debarment from conducting public examinations for at least three years.
Service provider, according to the bill, meant any agency, organization, body, association of persons, business entity, company, partnership or sole proprietorship—including its subsidiaries, subcontractors, and auxiliary providers of any computer resource or material, by whatever name—that a public examining authority has authorized to conduct a public examination.
Speaking in the House, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said the legislation has sent a strong signal to those involved in malpractices related to investigations. Referring to alleged irregularities in recruitment processes and scams that surfaced during the Congress regime, he said the previous government had “crushed the dreams of the youth”.
Published – 21 March 2026 02:19 IST
