Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appointed Nandan Nilekani to head a high-powered task force focused on reforming India’s nationwide examination system [1].

The move comes as the government seeks to restore public trust in the testing process. Repeated incidents of paper leaks and malpractices have sparked widespread student concerns, necessitating a structural overhaul to ensure transparency, and accountability [3].

As part of this initiative, the government is introducing the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 [2]. The legislation, designed as a rigorous anti-paper-leak measure, is scheduled for introduction in the Lok Sabha on Monday [2].

This legislative push follows a series of controversies regarding exam integrity, including the NEET row [3]. The administration said the new bill will create a tougher legal framework to deter those involved in leaking exam papers and manipulating results [2].

Nilekani's task force will operate alongside these legislative changes to modernize how exams are administered. The announcement of the task force occurred on Sunday, July 26 [1].

The government has not yet detailed the specific composition of the rest of the task force, but the appointment of Nilekani suggests a focus on leveraging technology and scalable systems to prevent fraud [1]. The Lok Sabha is expected to debate the bill's provisions today, with a primary focus on whether the opposition will support the strict new penalties [2].

“Nandan Nilekani appointed to head a high-powered task force on exam reforms”

The appointment of Nandan Nilekani, a co-founder of Infosys and the architect of India's Aadhaar biometric system, signals a shift toward a tech-driven solution for exam security. By combining a high-level administrative task force with the 2026 Amendment Bill, the Indian government is attempting a dual approach: utilizing legislative deterrence to punish fraud while implementing systemic digital reforms to make leaks technically impossible.