Nilekani-led task force taps ex-ISRO chief to overhaul India's exam system
A high-powered panel headed by Nandan Nilekani has consulted former ISRO chief S Somanath as it drafts reforms to secure India's entrance examinations.
In response to a major leak of the NEET medical entrance paper and the subsequent resignation of former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appointed a high-powered task force chaired by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani. The group is consulting a wide range of stakeholders, including students, parents, teachers and industry bodies, and has invited suggestions from academic institutions and exam-conducting agencies.
It has also called upon former ISRO chief S Somanath for his expertise. The panel is re-examining the 101 recommendations made by the Radhakrishnan Committee, which urged a full overhaul of the National Testing Agency's governance, security and digital infrastructure. The Supreme Court recently criticized the NTA for not learning from past failures.
Other members of the task force are former Intelligence Bureau director Tapan Deka, IIT Chennai director V Kamakoti, former education secretary Anita Karwal and logistics expert Amrit Lal Meena. The group has yet to submit its final report.
Why it matters
The reforms could reshape how millions of Indian students take high-stakes exams, affecting fairness and security nationwide.
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