Infosys Co-founder Nandan Nilekani to Lead PM Modi's Exam Reforms Task Force

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has constituted a high-powered task force, headed by prominent technology entrepreneur and Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani, to propose reforms aimed at making India's public examination system more transparent, reliable, and resistant to paper leaks.

The decision follows a day after the government reached an agreement with student protestors who had agitated over alleged irregularities and paper leaks in the NEET exam. Prime Minister Modi announced via social media that the government will implement the task force's recommendations and extensively utilize technology to strengthen the credibility of examinations conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA).

In addition to Nilekani, the task force includes other notable figures such as former ISRO chairman S Somanath, former Intelligence Bureau director Tapan Deka, IIT Madras director V Kamakoti, and former education secretary Anita Karwal. Nilekani's appointment underscores the government's focus on a technology-led approach to address leaks and broader shortcomings within the examination system.

Nilekani is widely regarded as one of the principal architects of India's digital public infrastructure. He played a pivotal role in the rollout of the Aadhaar system, which has since become a cornerstone of India's social welfare, financial inclusion, and digital identity framework. His experience in leading large-scale digital infrastructure initiatives under various administrations makes him a valuable asset for this task.

The intensified focus on examination reforms comes after over a month of protests related to alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG 2026 exam and broader concerns about the conduct of public examinations. The government has also strengthened its legislative response to examination fraud, establishing fast-track courts and planning stricter penalties for unfair examination practices.