Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday announced that the Central government will establish fast-track courts to ensure speedy trials and stringent punishment for those involved in examination paper leak cases, reaffirming the government's commitment to protecting the interests of students.

Making the announcement on social media platform X, the Prime Minister said that safeguarding the future of the country's youth remains the government's highest priority.

"Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth! We have decided to set up fast-track courts to ensure swift and stringent punishment for those involved in paper leaks. Those who try to harm the future of our youth will not be spared," the Prime Minister stated.

The announcement comes against the backdrop of nationwide protests following the alleged leak of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) 2026 question paper. The examination, taken by nearly two million medical aspirants, was cancelled and later conducted afresh.

Students and activists have been protesting in Delhi and several other cities, demanding accountability for repeated examination paper leaks and calling for stronger action against those responsible.

While announcing the decision, the government did not disclose the number of fast-track courts to be established, their territorial jurisdiction, or the timeline for making them operational.

Fast-track courts are generally set up by State governments in consultation with the respective High Courts.

India already has a dedicated law to tackle examination malpractices through the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.

The legislation prescribes imprisonment of three to five years and a fine of up to ₹10 lakh for individuals involved in unfair practices such as question paper leaks. Those found guilty of organised examination-related crimes may face imprisonment ranging from five to ten years along with a minimum fine of ₹1 crore.

Earlier this week, Prime Minister Modi described the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak as a "grave sin" and stated that 13 persons had been arrested in connection with the case.

The issue of examination paper leaks is also under consideration before the Supreme Court, which recently heard a public interest litigation seeking a standard operating procedure for investigating paper leak cases, time-bound investigations and fast-track trials.

The Court, however, expressed reservations regarding the wide-ranging reliefs sought in the petition and deferred the matter for further hearing.