PM Modi Announces Fast-Track Courts, Stricter Law Against Paper Leaks Amid NEET Row

New Delhi, Jul 24: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday announced that the Union Government will introduce a tougher law against examination paper leaks, including provisions for fast-track courts and stricter punishment for offenders, amid continuing protests over the alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG 2026 examination. In a self-recorded video shared on X, the Prime Minister said he had directed departments to prepare a draft Bill providing for fast-track courts and stringent legal action against those involved in paper leak cases. The proposed legislation is expected to be taken up by the Union Cabinet on Friday. “I know that paper leaks are not an ordinary matter. For lakhs of students and their parents, it is extremely painful,” Modi said, adding that several major steps had already been taken over the past two and a half months, with those responsible arrested and currently in jail. The Prime Minister said the government’s immediate priority was to ensure that students did not lose an academic year. He noted that examinations for nearly 22 lakh candidates were conducted in a short time after the controversy, and the results were declared on July 19. “However, we are not satisfied with just that,” Modi said. “I have directed the departments to set up fast-track courts. They worked through the night and prepared a draft that includes provisions for fast-track courts and stringent punishments. It will be discussed by the Cabinet tomorrow.” He said the draft would be finalised after incorporating suggestions from Cabinet colleagues and that the government would seek to pass the Bill in Parliament at the earliest, with the second week of the Monsoon Session beginning on Monday. “Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth. Those who try to harm their future will not be spared,” the Prime Minister asserted. The announcement comes amid sustained Opposition protests in Parliament over the NEET-UG controversy. Opposition parties have demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and a detailed discussion on the alleged examination irregularities inside and outside Parliament.