NEW DELHI, JUL 26 (AGENCIES): A task force headed by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani will look into how to improve India’s examination systems and give a report to the government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a video statement on Sunday.
Based on that report, “the work to ensure the reliability of upcoming examinations will be done,” PM Modi said in Hindi in the video posted on X.
“Friends, for the future of students, the government of India is continuously taking several steps. Those who played with the future of students are rotting in jails. We have set up fast-track courts. Tomorrow in parliament too, we are moving forward in the direction of making a new law with strict legal provisions,” the prime minister said.
The announcement comes a day after the protest over exam paper leaks, led by the satirical political group Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), ended following the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as Union Education Minister.
“But we must think for the future. Our examination system should be reliable, our examination system should be transparent, and our examination system should now have the maximum use of technology.
“Keeping all these things in mind, a decision has been made to form a high-power task force under the leadership of world-renowned technology expert Nandan Nilekani, which will focus on examination reform. And at the earliest, the work to ensure the reliability of the upcoming examinations will be done based on its report,” PM Modi said.
Apart from Nilekani, the task force’s members include domain experts from different streams. They will help improve the country’s examination systems, especially from a technology perspective and for structural reforms.
The other members are Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) former chairman S Somanath; Intelligence Bureau former director Tapan Deka, IIT Chennai director V Kamakoti, former education secretary Anita Kawal and logistics expert Amrit Lal Meena.
‘Attempt to repair PM’s tarnished image’: Congress
Reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement of a high-powered task force on examination reforms, the Congress on Sunday termed it a “high-powered attempt” by the prime minister to “repair” his “irreparably tarnished image.”
“Friends, in June 2024, after irregularities in several exams, including NEET-UG, the Modi government formed a high-level expert committee chaired by former ISRO chairman Dr K. Radhakrishnan to ‘ensure the transparent, smooth, and fair conduct of examinations.’
In July 2026, after irregularities once again in NEET-UG and other exams, the Modi government has formed a ‘high-level task force’ to focus on exam reforms,” Congress MP Jairam Ramesh wrote on X shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement.
