Exam taskforce: IIT Madras head says question paper stage 'biggest challenge'

A high-powered taskforce led by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani has begun its work to reform India's examination system following a major scandal involving the leakage of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) 2026 undergraduate question paper. The incident triggered widespread public concern, student protests, and a campaign among younger voters, highlighting deepening doubts about the integrity of the nation's competitive exams. According to Professor V. Kamakoti, director of IIT Madras and a member of the taskforce, the most critical vulnerability in the current system lies not in technology or logistics, but in the human element responsible for creating the question papers. The NEET 2026 leak forced authorities to conduct a re-examination, raising questions about the reliability of the examination process. In response, the Union government established the taskforce, which includes prominent figures such as former ISRO chairman S. Somnath, former Intelligence Bureau chief Tapan Deka, former education secretary Anita Karwal, and former Bihar chief secretary Amrit Lal Meena. The group aims to develop a more secure and transparent framework for conducting national-level exams. Professor Kamakoti emphasized that the transformation of India's examination landscape over the past few decades has made the issue of scale increasingly complex. He noted that when he took the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) in 1985, only around 5,000 students participated, compared to nearly 1.5 million today. While technological measures such as encryption, biometric verification, CCTV surveillance, and metal detectors have been introduced, these alone cannot fully address the risks associated with large-scale testing. Reflecting on the recent incidents, Kamakoti argued that the primary challenge lies in ensuring the trustworthiness of the individuals tasked with setting the question papers. He pointed out that discussions often focus on where leaked papers surface rather than examining how they might have been compromised initially. The taskforce is expected to scrutinize each phase of the examination cycle, including single-session and multi-session tests, multilingual papers, and exams of different sizes, proposing both immediate and long-term solutions. While some have suggested that artificial intelligence (AI) could play a role in improving the examination process, such as through translation or administrative support, Kamakoti cautioned against relying solely on automated systems. He stressed that accountability must remain with human oversight. “There will always be a human in the loop,” he said. “The real question is: how do you select that human?” The taskforce is anticipated to present its findings before the upcoming examination season, which is scheduled to begin later this year. If successful, the reforms proposed by the group may shift the focus away from additional layers of technology toward reinforcing the human elements within the system. The outcome of their work will likely shape the future direction of India's examination reforms, addressing concerns that have persisted despite advances in security measures.