The Nandan Nilekani-led High-Powered Task Force on examination reforms has consulted former ISRO chairman K Radhakrishnan as part of its ongoing review of the National Testing Agency (NTA) examination system. The consultation comes amid efforts to strengthen examination security and prevent incidents such as the NEET-UG paper leak.
The task force, constituted in July, is examining ways to make examinations conducted by the NTA more secure, transparent and reliable. It is also reviewing recommendations made by the Radhakrishnan Committee, which was constituted by the Centre following the 2024 NEET-UG paper leak controversy.
Nilekani Panel Consults Radhakrishnan on NTA Reforms
The Nilekani-led task force is consulting several stakeholders as it works on comprehensive reforms for the NTA examination system. The consultation process includes students, parents, teachers, academic institutions, subject experts, industry organisations and examination-conducting bodies.
The panel has also held discussions with senior officials from the NTA and the Department of Higher Education. Technology and digital security are expected to form important components of the reforms being considered.
The government has tasked the High-Powered Task Force with studying NTA's examination processes and recommending measures to make the system "robust, secure, transparent, trustworthy and future-ready", according to officials.
Radhakrishnan Committee Made 101 Recommendations
The Centre constituted the High-Level Committee of Experts headed by K Radhakrishnan in June 2024 following the NEET-UG paper leak controversy. The committee submitted its report in October 2024 with 101 recommendations covering examination reforms, data security and the structure and functioning of the NTA.
The recommendations included strengthening security controls across critical examination systems, including question paper management, candidate registration, fee payment, admit cards, computer-based testing, OMR processing, normalisation and result systems.
What Is the Nilekani Task Force Examining?
The new task force is reviewing the earlier recommendations while examining additional measures that could strengthen the examination infrastructure. Its work includes areas such as examination security, technology, data protection and the functioning of the NTA.
The panel includes Nandan Nilekani, former ISRO chairman S Somanath, former Intelligence Bureau director Tapan Deka, IIT Madras Director V Kamakoti, former education secretary Anita Karwal and logistics expert Amrit Lal Meena.
