- A task force led by Nandan Nilekani will review India's examination systems and report to the government
- PM Narendra Modi announced efforts to ensure reliability and transparency in upcoming examinations
- The task force will emphasize technology use to improve the examination process
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 today.
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.
As a co-founder of the eGov Foundation, Nilekani has been pivotal in shaping the organisation's mission to enhance urban governance through technology. He focuses on building citizen-centric platforms that provide urban local bodies with the tools they need to deliver better services and improve the quality of life for citizens.
With over two decades of experience in leadership roles, including as the founding chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), Nilekani brings a wealth of knowledge in leveraging technology for large-scale impact.
Another organisation he co-founded, EkStep Foundation, aims to improve basic literacy and numeracy for millions of children through a digital platform.
Nilekani holds a Bachelor's degree from IIT Bombay and has been honoured with several awards including the Padma Bhushan and the Joseph Schumpeter Prize.
