The Indian government has introduced a bill in the lower house of parliament that would sharply increase penalties for exam fraud — but opposition lawmakers are blocking debate, demanding an apology from the interior minister over a police crackdown on student protesters.
The Public Examinations Amendment Bill was tabled on Monday, days after the education minister resigned following more than five weeks of youth-led protests triggered by the leak of medical entrance exam papers affecting some two million candidates.
The bill proposes prison terms of up to ten years and fines five times higher than the current maximum.
Ishan Garg reports from New Delhi.
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Ishan Garg in New Delhi says some analysts believe the opposition may face pressure to allow the bill to pass, given it forms a core part of the government's promises to the protest movement.
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