Closing cheating loopholes, the government is advancing a specific law to criminally prosecute exam fraud and bar offenders from all state jobs. Involved state officials will be dismissed, and a central database of corrupt individuals will be created.
On 22 Sep 2026 GMT+7, Ms. Ploytale Laksamee Sangchan, Deputy Spokesperson of the Prime Minister's Office, revealed that the government is moving forward to strengthen measures to prevent and suppress corruption in public sector recruitment exams. The government approved anti-corruption prevention measures for state employment exams proposed by the Coordination Committee Against Corruption (CCAC), chaired by the Prime Minister, and instructed the Office of the Council of State to consult with the Civil Service Commission (CSC) to use these principles and proposals to draft legislation.
Ms. Ploytale said these measures aim to systematically resolve exam corruption problems after cases were found in 2025 involving bribery and answer sheet tampering in competitive exams for civil servants and local government employees. Currently, there is no specific law criminalizing corruption in state employment entrance exams or public agency recruitment.
The key proposal is to classify exam corruption for public service or state agency jobs as a criminal offense. It empowers relevant agencies—including the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), the Office of Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO), the Royal Thai Police, and other law enforcement bodies—to investigate offenses. It also establishes electronic channels for the public to report corruption tips or information.
"Offenders will be barred from entering or working in any state agency, and once the facts are finalized, their names will be submitted to the CSC to be included in a central database. This allows government agencies to check applicants' backgrounds before hiring," she explained.
Additionally, if offenders or those involved are civil servants, employees, contractors, or state officials, the principle is to dismiss them from service. The CSC proposed clearly separating disciplinary penalties from criminal penalties, as dismissal is the highest disciplinary sanction, while heavier penalties should be stipulated under criminal law.
When there is reasonable belief of corruption, investigations must proceed promptly. Regarding temporary exam suspension orders, the CSC noted that these should be considered case-by-case depending on severity to avoid unduly affecting honest candidates.
"The government wants to close cheating loopholes from the start, as public sector recruitment should be based on knowledge and ability—not money, connections, or corruption. Those who cheat must be clearly held accountable. If state officials are involved, serious disciplinary and criminal measures must be enforced to ensure fairness for honest examinees and maintain trust in the civil service system."