In a major move aimed at restoring confidence in India’s examination system following the nationwide outrage over the NEET-UG paper leak and other examination irregularities, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced the constitution of a high-powered task force on examination reforms under the chairmanship of Infosys co-founder and Aadhaar architect Nandan Nilekani. The announcement comes barely a day after the resignation of former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan amid sustained protests demanding accountability for repeated failures in the conduct of competitive examinations.
In a brief video message, the Prime Minister said the country’s examination system must be “trustworthy, transparent and make maximum use of technology.” He said the task force would recommend comprehensive reforms to strengthen the credibility and integrity of public examinations, and that the government would act swiftly on its recommendations to ensure future examinations are conducted without controversy.
The panel has been tasked with recommending structural and technological reforms to the examination ecosystem, including measures to prevent paper leaks, improve governance of the National Testing Agency (NTA), and leverage digital technologies to secure the examination process. The government is also expected to introduce legislation in Parliament to tighten the law against unfair practices in public examinations and prescribe stricter penalties for offenders.
Nilekani, widely regarded as the architect of India’s Aadhaar-based digital identity infrastructure, has been chosen to lead the reform exercise because of his experience in building large-scale digital public infrastructure. Reports indicate that the six-member task force comprises experts from technology, administration and public institutions and will prepare a roadmap for long-term examination reforms, including recommendations on the use of advanced technologies and institutional restructuring.
The six-member high-powered task force on exam reforms, led by Nandan Nilekani, includes the following members: Nandan Nilekani, Cofounder of Infosys, Somnath, Former ISRO Chairman, Tapan Deka, Former Intelligence Bureau Director, V Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras, Anita Karwal, Former Education Secretary, Amrit Lal Meena, Logistics expert.
The announcement marks the government’s most significant policy response to the examination crisis that triggered weeks of nationwide student protests after the NEET-UG paper leak. Along with the resignation of the Education Minister, the proposed reforms, fast-track courts for examination fraud, and the new Nilekani-led task force signal the Centre’s attempt to rebuild public trust in one of the world’s largest examination systems.
