The Centre has decided to constitute a task force to overhaul the country’s examination system, with Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani appointed as its chairman.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the decision in a video posted on social media at around 7 p.m. on Sunday.
The announcement comes amid widespread protests by students and youth over the alleged NEET question paper leak and irregularities in the examination system. The agitation had earlier led to the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, making the prime minister’s latest announcement particularly significant.
Modi said the task force would prioritise reforms in the examination process and submit recommendations to the government at the earliest, identifying areas that require changes.
He added that the government would implement the task force’s proposals to ensure greater transparency in future examinations.
This was Modi’s third video message since the NEET protests began. However, he did not comment in any of the videos on the CJP demonstration at Jantar Mantar, police action against protesters, or Pradhan’s resignation.
Nilekani is widely known as an information technology expert. He was also closely associated with the conception and implementation of Aadhaar, India’s biometric identification programme.
The Centre has also announced the other members of the task force. They include former Indian Space Research Organisation chairman S. Somanath, former Intelligence Bureau director Tapan Deka, IIT Madras director V. Kamakoti, former Union education secretary Anita Karwal and technology expert Amritlal Meena.
In his video message, the prime minister stressed the need for long-term reforms in the examination system. He said the government was committed to making examinations more transparent and credible, with greater use of technology.
Modi also said the government had taken several steps to protect the future of students.
“Those who played with the future of students are now in jail,” he said.
Last Thursday at midnight, Modi had released another video message after protests organised by the Kokroach Janata Party over the NEET controversy triggered unrest in parts of the country.
In that video, he announced that a draft Bill had been prepared to prevent examination fraud and question paper leaks. He said the proposal would be discussed by the Cabinet on Friday and passed in Parliament on Monday.
Following the prime minister’s message, social activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his hunger strike at a hospital in Gurugram after accepting a drink from Union minister J.P. Nadda.
Modi posted another video on social media on Friday night. In the 40-second clip, he thanked viewers for their responses and suggestions.
“Thank you, friends. I had the opportunity to connect with you late last night,” Modi said.
He added, “I thank everyone for the way you responded to the video and shared your suggestions.”
The caption accompanying Friday’s video read: “Thank you to all the young men and women who watched my video yesterday and sent valuable suggestions.”
