PM Modi Appoints  Infosys Co-Founder to Lead Major Exam Reform ‘Task Force’ After Paper Leak Row

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday announced the formation of a High-Powered Task Force headed by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani to recommend reforms aimed at making India's examination system more transparent, credible and technology-driven.

The Prime Minister, in a video message released on social media, announced the government's ongoing efforts to safeguard students' future and build trust in competitive exams.

In a video message shared on social media, the Prime Minister said the government was taking continuous steps to protect students' future and restore confidence in competitive examinations.

"Friends, for the future of students, the Indian government is continuously taking steps. The people who played with the future of students are now rotting in jail. We have set up fast-track courts. We are also moving ahead with bringing stricter laws in Parliament tomorrow," PM Modi said.

He announced the new initiative, adding that the examination process needs to be streamlined and made more transparent while ensuring that technology is used to prevent irregularities.

"We have decided to constitute a high-powered task force under the leadership of world-renowned technology expert Nandan Nilekani. This task force will focus on examination reforms," the Prime Minister said.

The task force's recommendations will inform the government's resolve to guarantee the credibility of future examinations in the country, PM Modi added.

The announcement comes a day before the Union government is set to introduce a Bill in Parliament proposing stricter punishment and heavier penalties for those convicted in paper leak cases.

The Prime Minister's announcement is also coming after the resignation of the former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan following weeks of nationwide protests by students over alleged malfeasance in the examination system. Not long after Joshi's resignation, Pralhad Joshi was sworn in as the new Union Education Minister.

The government said that “The High-Powered Task Force” has been formed as a multi-disciplinary panel to make recommendations for structural and technological changes, especially in the process of conducting exams by the National Testing Agency (NTA).

In addition to Nandan Nilekani, the task force consists of a number of experts from the technology, education, security and public administration sectors:

• Nandan Nilekani, a technology expert and Task Force Chairperson.
• S. Somnath, former Chairman of ISRO
• Tapan Deka, former Director of the Intelligence Bureau
• The INAP Board of Directors will be guided by the IIT Madras Director V. Kamakoti.
• Anita Karwal, ex-Education Secretary
• Amrit Lal Meena, a logistics expert.

The committee will also look at measures to deepen the security of the examination process, increase the use of technology, transparency and make recommendations for long-term structural changes to make the Indian examination system more credible.

The task force is set to be instrumental in the future reforms to restore faith of the people in competitive examinations given in the country due to the ongoing concerns regarding paper leaks and examination integrity.