The Central Government has extended the tenure of the High-Powered Task Force (HPTF) on examination reforms, headed by Nandan Nilekani, until January 2027. The committee has been assigned additional time to complete consultations, examine suggestions from stakeholders and prepare comprehensive recommendations for improving India’s public examination system.
The task force was established in July 2026 following widespread protests over examination irregularities and allegations of question paper leaks, particularly in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET). Its primary objective is to develop a secure, transparent, fair and technology-driven examination framework that can restore confidence among students and other stakeholders. Education+2
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the formation of the six-member High-Powered Task Force in July 2026. The decision followed protests by students demanding accountability and reforms in the examination system after controversies surrounding competitive examinations.
The committee was constituted to examine weaknesses in existing examination arrangements and recommend measures to prevent question paper leaks, improve examination security and strengthen the institutional framework responsible for conducting public examinations.
Nandan Nilekani, co-founder of Infosys, was appointed as its chairman because of his experience in technology and large-scale digital infrastructure. The committee brings together experts from technology, space research, intelligence, education and logistics to examine examination-related challenges from different perspectives. Reuters+2
The committee consists of six members with experience in different professional and administrative fields. Their combined expertise is expected to help the government develop practical solutions for strengthening India’s examination infrastructure.
The members of the task force are:
The diverse composition of the committee is significant because examination reform requires coordination between technology providers, examination authorities, educational institutions, security agencies and administrative departments. Education+2
One of the major developments associated with the committee is the receipt of more than 50,000 suggestions from different stakeholders. These suggestions have come from students, parents, teachers, academic institutions, subject matter experts, industry organisations and examination-conducting bodies.
The large number of responses highlights the importance of public participation in developing examination policies. Students and teachers experience the examination system directly, while experts and institutions can contribute technical and administrative solutions.
The committee is examining these suggestions as part of its consultation process. The government has also submitted an affidavit before the Supreme Court detailing the progress made by the task force. The extension until January 2027 will allow the committee to complete its consultations and prepare its recommendations. Education+2
The task force is examining several important aspects of India’s public examination system. Its work focuses on improving examination security, strengthening institutional accountability and making examinations more accessible to candidates from different geographical and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Some important areas under consideration include:
These areas are intended to support the development of a reliable and future-ready examination framework. Press Information Bureau+1
One of the important reform proposals being discussed is the creation of a secure digital question bank or question vault. Under this approach, a large pool of questions would be prepared by subject experts and verified before being stored in a secure digital database.
Questions could be categorised according to syllabus coverage, subject, difficulty level and examination requirements. The final question paper could then be generated through a random selection process based on a predetermined examination blueprint.
This approach would reduce the possibility of unauthorised access to the complete question paper before the examination. Digital encryption and secure transmission could further strengthen the protection of examination material.
Another proposal involves separating responsibilities such as question paper preparation, examination centre management and test administration so that excessive dependence on a single service provider can be reduced. These ideas are under consideration and should not be treated as final government-approved recommendations. Education News – The Indian Express
The examination reform exercise is particularly important for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), which is conducted for admission to undergraduate medical courses in India.
Following examination-related controversies, the government announced a transition towards Computer-Based Testing (CBT) for NEET from 2027. The proposed shift is intended to strengthen examination security and reduce vulnerabilities associated with the conventional pen-and-paper examination process.
However, implementing computer-based examinations on a nationwide scale requires adequate infrastructure, reliable internet connectivity, secure examination software and sufficient testing centres. Ensuring equal access for candidates from rural and remote areas will also be important.
Discussions around hybrid examination arrangements and the time required to expand infrastructure demonstrate that the transition requires careful planning. The final recommendations of the task force are expected to provide a broader framework for examination reforms. The Times of India+2
The Nandan Nilekani-led task force is also building upon earlier efforts to improve examination security. Following the 2024 NEET paper leak controversy, the Central Government established a committee headed by former ISRO Chairman K. Radhakrishnan in June 2024.
The Radhakrishnan Committee submitted its recommendations in October 2024. Its proposals included improvements in examination security, the use of technology, better examination management and consideration of computer-based or hybrid examination methods.
The government subsequently established a High-Powered Steering Committee, also headed by K. Radhakrishnan, to monitor the implementation of the earlier recommendations.
The formation of the Nilekani-led task force represents a further effort to address examination vulnerabilities and develop a more comprehensive system of public examination governance. Education+1
The extension of the task force’s tenure until January 2027 provides additional time for stakeholder consultations and the preparation of its final report. The committee’s recommendations are expected to help the government identify practical measures for improving examination security and administrative efficiency.
The reform process is particularly relevant for major competitive examinations conducted by organisations such as the National Testing Agency (NTA) and other public recruitment authorities.
For millions of aspirants preparing for government jobs and higher education entrance examinations, the outcome could influence how question papers are prepared, how examinations are conducted and how complaints are addressed.
The success of these reforms will depend on effective implementation, adequate infrastructure, transparency and coordination between central and state-level institutions.
The extension of the Nandan Nilekani-led task force is important for students preparing for UPSC, State Public Service Commission examinations, SSC, banking, railway, defence and teaching recruitment examinations. Its recommendations may influence examination procedures, security arrangements and assessment methods across the country.
Paper leaks and examination irregularities can undermine public confidence in recruitment and entrance examinations. The task force aims to identify institutional weaknesses and recommend stronger safeguards to ensure that examinations are conducted fairly and transparently.
The proposed adoption of computer-based testing, secure question banks and encrypted digital question paper delivery reflects India’s increasing emphasis on technology-driven governance. Such developments are relevant to digital transformation and e-governance topics in competitive examinations.
Examination reforms must address the challenges faced by candidates from rural areas, remote regions and economically weaker backgrounds. Better infrastructure, accessible examination centres and inclusive assessment arrangements are essential to maintaining equal opportunities.
The committee’s recommendations may help improve coordination among examination authorities, technology providers and government institutions. Its work is also relevant to questions concerning public administration, educational governance and institutional transparency.
The development is relevant to education policy, governance, technology, public administration and institutional reforms. Aspirants should remember the chairman, committee members, formation year, number of suggestions received and January 2027 deadline.
The 2024 NEET-UG examination controversy brought examination security and transparency into national discussions. Allegations of question paper leaks and irregularities raised concerns about the reliability of India’s competitive examination system.
In response, the Central Government constituted a committee in June 2024 under former ISRO Chairman K. Radhakrishnan. The committee submitted its recommendations in October 2024, focusing on improving examination security, technology adoption and administrative arrangements.
The Government of India introduced the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, to prevent unfair practices in public examinations.
The legislation provides a legal framework to address organised examination malpractices, including question paper leaks, unauthorised assistance and other fraudulent activities. It prescribes stringent penalties for offences covered under the Act.
The law applies to specified public examinations conducted by designated authorities and institutions. It represents an important step towards strengthening accountability and protecting the integrity of recruitment and entrance examinations.
Despite earlier reforms, subsequent examination controversies demonstrated the need for further improvements. In July 2026, following student protests over examination irregularities, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a new six-member High-Powered Task Force headed by Nandan Nilekani.
The committee was assigned the responsibility of examining examination security, technology integration, institutional governance and accessibility. Its formation marked another significant phase in India’s efforts to improve public examination systems.
The committee received more than 50,000 suggestions from stakeholders, including students, parents, teachers, educational institutions and experts. Considering the ongoing consultations and the need for detailed examination of different reform proposals, the government extended its tenure until January 2027.
The task force is expected to submit its recommendations within the extended period, providing a framework for future improvements in India’s examination system.
Nandan Nilekani, co-founder of Infosys, is the chairman of the High-Powered Task Force constituted by the Central Government in July 2026.
The Central Government has extended the tenure of the task force until January 2027.
The task force was constituted on 26 July 2026 following student protests over examination irregularities and paper leaks.
The task force consists of six members, including its chairman, Nandan Nilekani.
The other five members are:
The task force has received more than 50,000 suggestions from students, parents, teachers, academic institutions, subject experts, industry organisations and examination-conducting bodies.
Its main objective is to recommend comprehensive reforms to make public examinations more secure, transparent, fair, accessible and technologically advanced. It also aims to prevent question paper leaks and strengthen institutional accountability.
The question vault is a proposed secure digital question bank containing questions prepared and verified by subject experts. Questions would be selected randomly according to a predetermined examination blueprint to reduce the risk of paper leaks.
NEET stands for National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test. It is the national-level entrance examination for admission to undergraduate medical courses in India.
The government has announced that NEET will transition to Computer-Based Testing (CBT) mode from 2027.
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