Nandan Nilekani-led ‘High-Powered Task Force' invites suggestions on exam reforms

The Union government on Friday constituted a ‘High-Powered Task Force’ for exam reforms, including for tests conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), with Nandan Nilekani as the chairman.

This comes in the aftermath of the 36-day student agitation in Delhi's Jantar Mantar and other parts of the country against alleged irregularities in NEET. The protests led to the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, with the Centre also announcing steps to reform the examination system.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had, last month, announced the formation of the six-member task force headed by Infosys co-founder Nilekani, which he said would recommend technological interventions and structural reforms to overhaul NTA's examination system.

Apart from Nilekani, the panel will comprise former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman S Somanath, former Intelligence Bureau director Tapan Deka, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras director V Kamakoti, former education secretary Anita Karwal and logistics expert Amrit Lal Meena.

What will the ‘High-Powered Task Force’ do?

According to a press release by the ministry of personnel, grievances and pensions, the task force has been entrusted with examining and recommending “comprehensive reforms relating to the conduct, security, design and governance of public examinations.”

The task force will examine measures for strengthening institutional systems and processes, ensuring “integrity and security” in exams, and deploying “appropriate technologies.” It will further look into “augmenting examination infrastructure, promoting accessibility and inclusion, and safeguarding student well-being”, the ministry said.

It said that the objective of the HPTF is to “develop a robust, secure, transparent, equitable and future-ready public examination system.”