Centre Extends Nandan Nilekani-Led Exam Reform Task Force Tenure Until January 2027

The tenure of the high-powered task force, led by Nandan Nilekani to reform the examination system, has been extended by the Central Government till January 2027. The committee was set up in July 2026 in the wake of the protests by students over examination malpractice and leakage of papers, including NEET. The panel has received more than 50,000 suggestions from students, parents, teachers, academic institutions and other concerned parties to recommend ways to increase transparency, fairness and stop leakage in the examination system in India.

Nandan Nilekani-Led Exam Reform Committee

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the formation of a six member high-powered committee in July 2026. This came just one day after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned after students protested in large numbers at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on July 25.

The protest was due to another controversy regarding the leakage of the NEET exam paper.

The committee, led by Nandan Nilekani, co-founder of Infosys, has been formed to recommend sweeping reforms to prevent leakage in the examination system.

The panel was originally scheduled to submit its report in October 2027. However, it will now submit the report by January 2027.

High-Powered Exam Reform Task Force Members

The committee consists of 6 members from various fields like Technology, Space Research, Intelligence, Education and Logistics.

Member	Designation
Nandan Nilekani	Co-founder of the Infosys, Chair
S. Somanath	Former Chairman of ISRO
Tapan Deka	Former Director of the Intelligence Bureau
V. Kamakoti	Director IIT Madras
Anita Karwal	Former Education Secretary
Amrit Lal Meena	Logistics Expert

The committee has various members from different fields to add technological, administrative, and institutional expertise.

Over 50,000 Suggestions Received

The task force has received over 50,000 suggestions from,

• Students and Parents
• Teachers and Academic Institutions
• Experts
• Industry bodies
• Examination Bodies

They also consulted with former ISRO Chairman K. Radhakrishnan, who led the committee formed by the Center after the NEET paper leakage in 2024.

Consultations are still underway, and the Center has filed an affidavit with the Supreme Court.

Role of the Radhakrishnan Committee

After the NEET paper leakage controversy in 2024, the Center formed a committee chaired by former Chairman of ISRO K. Radhakrishnan in June 2024.

In October 2024 the recommendations were submitted and a High Powered Steering Committee (HPSC) was formed by the government. Radhakrishnan also chaired this committee to oversee implementation of the recommendations.

However, while the Ministry of Education was implementing the recommendations, there was another NEET exam paper leakage controversy in 2026 which resulted in widespread protests. Thus, a new committee was set up, chaired by

Nandan Nilekani, to recommend additional measures.

NEET to Be Held in CBT Format

The Center announced that the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) would be held in Computer Based Testing (CBT) from 2027.

The previous committee recommended holding the medical entrance examination in phases and using a computer-based or hybrid exam rather than a traditional paper-based exam.

This is part of the effort to improve examination security.