Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Cabinet has approved a proposal to introduce the Odisha Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, aimed at tackling malpractice in public examinations across the state. The new law, which seeks to address a range of unfair practices, will be enforced to ensure the integrity of exams conducted for various government services and educational admissions in Odisha.
An official release highlighted that the Act targets common forms of cheating, including impersonation, cheating, exam disruptions, unauthorized entry into examination halls, and premature leakage of exam-related information. The law is designed to cover a wide range of public examinations conducted by bodies such as the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC), Odisha Staff Selection Commission (OSSC), Odisha Subordinate Staff Selection Commission (OSSSC), Odisha Police Selection Board, and Odisha Joint Entrance Examination (OJEE), among others.
The scope of the Act extends to examinations organized by various state government departments and their affiliated agencies, along with any additional authorities notified by the government.
Under the new legislation, all offenses will be treated as cognizable, non-bailable, and non-compoundable. Those found guilty of engaging in unfair practices or causing disruptions during exams will face imprisonment ranging from three to five years, coupled with fines of up to ₹10 lakh. Service providers involved in such malpractices will be liable to a fine of up to ₹1 crore, and the cost of any disrupted examination will be recoverable from them.
The law also includes stringent provisions for non-payment of fines, with additional imprisonment penalties as per the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, in cases of default.
This landmark legislation is part of the Odisha government’s efforts to maintain the credibility and fairness of public examinations and to ensure that deserving candidates are not hindered by unethical practices.