India, July 25 -- The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday approved a draft bill that will pave the way for harsher punishments-such as a jail time of up to 10 years and stiffer penalties of up to Rs.10 crore- for those convicted of paper leaks, said people aware of the details.

The draft bill will amend The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, proposing a minimum punishment of five years' imprisonment for individuals involved in paper leaks, the people cited above said.

The draft bill, which Modi mentioned in his video message late on Thursday night, will now be tabled in the Lok Sabha on Monday, said a person privy to the details.

The present law has provisions for three to five years...