New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday announced the constitution of a high-powered task force headed by technology expert Nandan Nilekani to recommend reforms for the National Testing Agency (NTA), focusing on overhauling the examination system through technology and structural changes.
The announcement comes amid sustained scrutiny of the NTA following a series of controversies over competitive examinations in recent years.
In a message on social media platform X, PM said: “Friends, for the future of the students, the Indian government is taking many steps continuously. The people who played with the future of the students, they are rotting in the jails. We have already made a fast-track court . Even in the Parliament tomorrow, we are moving forward with the implementation of new laws. But we have to think about the future. We have to make sure that our exam procedures are safe. We have to make sure that our exam procedures are transparent. We have to make sure that most of the technology is used in our exam procedures. With all these things in mind, under the leadership of the world-famous technology expert Nandan Nilekani, we have decided to form a high-power task force which will focus on examination reform. And soon, the task of ensuring the reliability of upcoming exams will be done on the basis of the report of the task force,” he added.
According to details shared by the government, the multidisciplinary panel will recommend reforms to revamp the NTA’s examination processes, particularly from a technology perspective, while also suggesting structural changes to strengthen the integrity and efficiency of the testing system.
The task force will be chaired by Nandan Nilekani, co-founder of Infosys and the architect of Aadhaar. It will include former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman S Somanath, former Intelligence Bureau director Tapan Deka, Indian Institute of Technology (Madras) director V Kamakoti, former education secretary Anita Karwal, and logistics expert and former civil servant Amrit Lal Meena.
The inclusion of experts from technology, education, intelligence, space research and logistics signals the government’s attempt to address multiple aspects of examination management, including digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, operational planning and governance.
The announcement follows months of debate over the credibility of national entrance examinations conducted by the NTA. Allegations of paper leaks, irregularities and technical glitches in examinations such as NEET-UG had triggered nationwide protests and legal challenges, prompting the Centre to promise a comprehensive overhaul.
Institutional reforms
The newly constituted panel is expected to examine ways to improve the security, transparency and robustness of examinations through technological interventions while recommending institutional reforms for the NTA.
Meanwhile, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Sunday assumed additional charge of the Ministry of Education and said he had begun reviewing the ministry’s functioning by holding detailed meetings with senior officials.Speaking to reporters after taking charge, Joshi said he was familiarising himself with the ministry’s work before making any decisions. “I have taken charge of the ministry. I am learning about the ministry and the decisions I have to take as the minister. I am getting to understand the ministry from 11 am till 3 pm in the evening. I also spoke with the officials in detail. This is a big department. I will speak in detail after understanding its functioning,” he said.
Joshi, who continues to hold the portfolios of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, and New and Renewable Energy, also announced his assumption of charge in a post on X.
“Today, I assumed charge as the Union Minister of Education in the Government of India. I am deeply grateful from the bottom of my heart to the Honourable Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji for reposing faith in me and entrusting me with this important responsibility. I accept this responsibility with complete humility and a profound sense of duty,” he wrote.
Later in the day, Joshi chaired a review meeting of the ministry, where he took stock of the implementation of various schemes and ongoing initiatives. Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary also attended the meeting. Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Dr Vineet Joshi, and Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy, Shri T. K. Anil Kumar, along with senior officers of the Ministry were present.
The development comes after Dharmendra Pradhan announced his resignation, saying he had submitted it to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the interest of students and to ensure that the ongoing protests over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations were not exploited by “anti-national forces.”
Pradhan’s resignation followed weeks of nationwide protests over alleged examination irregularities, with students demanding greater transparency, accountability and sweeping reforms in the country’s examination system.
