New Delhi [India], June 22 (HBTV): The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act of 2024 has come into effect on Friday even as the country is being rocked by scandals in the National Eligibility and Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) and National Eligibility Test (NET).  The new act aims to prevent unfair means in public examinations and common entrance tests held across the country.  

The new legislation comes amid a massive row over alleged malpractices in conducting the NEET and UGC NET examinations. 

A gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions stated: ‘In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 1 of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 (1 of 2024), the central government hereby appoints the 21st day of June 2024, as the date on which the provisions of the said Act shall come into force.' 

The Bill was passed by the two Houses of Parliament in the Budget session, which concluded on February 10. It seeks to prevent the use of "unfair means" in public examinations and bring "greater transparency, fairness and credibility".  

On February 13, President Droupadi Murmu gave her nod to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill 2024, which aims to check cheating in government recruitment exams.    

(ANI) This is a syndicated news feed. HBTV has edited it for clarity.