PM Modi names Nandan Nilekani to lead overhaul of India’s exam system
UPSC / SSC current affairs note · Governance
Why in news
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a high-powered task force headed by Nandan Nilekani to recommend measures for making India's public examinations leak-proof, transparent, and technology-driven. This follows the NEET-UG paper leak and ongoing student protests, signaling a fresh push to overhaul the testing system.
Background
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has faced criticism after the NEET-UG paper leak. Earlier, the K Radhakrishnan committee had proposed changes in NTA's governance, security protocols, and examination processes. The new task force is expected to complement those reforms.
Key facts
PM Modi announced a task force headed by Nandan Nilekani to overhaul India's exam system.
The panel will recommend measures for leak-proof, transparent, and technology-driven public examinations.
The task force will revamp the National Testing Agency (NTA) from a technology perspective and suggest structural reforms.
Members include former ISRO chairman S Somnath, former IB director Tapan Deka, IIT Madras director V Kamakoti, former education secretary Anita Karwal, and logistics expert Amrit Lal Meena.
The announcement follows the NEET-UG paper leak and ongoing student protests at Jantar Mantar.
The K Radhakrishnan committee had earlier proposed changes in NTA's governance and security protocols.
The government will act on the panel's recommendations to build a 'foolproof' examination system.
Prelims pointers
- Nandan Nilekani: technology entrepreneur, co-founder of Infosys, former chairman of UIDAI (Aadhaar).
- National Testing Agency (NTA): conducts entrance exams like NEET-UG, JEE Main, UGC NET.
- K Radhakrishnan committee: earlier proposed reforms for NTA after NEET-UG paper leak.
- NEET-UG: National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for undergraduate medical courses.
- Jantar Mantar: location of ongoing student protests in Delhi.
Mains angles
- GS2: Governance – issues of transparency and accountability in public examination systems.
- GS2: Education – reforms in examination systems, role of technology in preventing malpractices.
- GS3: Technology – use of technology for secure and transparent processes.
- GS4: Ethics – integrity and credibility of high-stakes entrance examinations.