Paper leaks. Protests. A Union Minister’s resignation. India’s exam system hit a breaking point this month — and PM Narendra Modi’s answer is a six-member high-powered task force stacked with some of the country’s sharpest minds from tech, space, security, education and administration.
Chaired by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani, the panel was announced on July 26, 2026, a day after Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan stepped down amid nationwide protests over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak. The mandate: make India’s examination ecosystem “trustworthy, transparent and tech-savvy,” using tools like AI and blockchain-based verification.
Here’s a Exam look at who’s on the panel and why they were picked:
| # | Member | Known For | Role in the Task Force |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nandan Nilekani | Infosys co-founder, ex-UIDAI Chairman, Aadhaar & UPI architect | Chairperson — leads tech-driven reform strategy |
| 2 | S. Somanath | Former ISRO Chairman (2022–25), led Chandrayaan-3 & Aditya-L1 | Brings large-scale mission execution experience |
| 3 | Tapan Deka | Former Intelligence Bureau Director | Focus on security, leak prevention, counter-malpractice |
| 4 | Prof. V. Kamakoti | Director, IIT Madras; creator of the Shakti microprocessor | Cybersecurity, AI and high-performance computing input |
| 5 | Anita Karwal | Former CBSE Chairperson & Education Secretary | Ground-level insight into exam administration & policy |
| 6 | Amrit Lal Meena | Former Bihar Chief Secretary, logistics expert | Operational and administrative execution at scale |
The Man Leading the Charge
Nandan Nilekani needs little introduction. He co-founded Infosys in 1981, later built Aadhaar — India’s biometric ID system — as founding Chairman of UIDAI, and helped shape UPI, the backbone of India’s digital payments. If anyone can architect a leak-proof, tech-first exam system, the government is betting it’s him.
The Space Scientist Bringing Mission Discipline
S. Somanath steered ISRO through some of its biggest wins, including the historic Chandrayaan-3 Moon landing and the Aditya-L1 solar mission. His reputation for precision engineering and high-stakes execution is expected to translate well into designing an examination process with zero room for error.
The Security Veteran
Tapan Deka’s decades in intelligence and counter-terrorism make him the panel’s go-to expert on plugging leaks before they happen — treating exam security less like an IT problem and more like a national security one.
The Tech Academic
Prof. V. Kamakoti of IIT Madras built India’s indigenous Shakti microprocessor and specialises in cybersecurity and AI. He’s expected to guide the panel’s push toward homegrown, secure digital infrastructure for exams.
The Education Insider
Anita Karwal has sat on both sides of the exam table as former CBSE Chairperson and Education Secretary, giving the task force a practical, policy-tested perspective on what actually works in Indian classrooms and exam halls.
The Execution Expert
Amrit Lal Meena’s administrative background as Bihar’s Chief Secretary adds real-world logistics know-how — because even the best digital reform needs flawless ground execution across thousands of exam centres.
Why This Task Force Matters
This isn’t a routine committee. As PM Modi put it, the goal is a system Indian students can actually trust — one where technology, not loopholes, decides outcomes. The panel will study the entire examination lifecycle and hand the government a roadmap for reforming the National Testing Agency (NTA) and beyond.
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The Bottom Line
Six experts, one shared mission: rebuild the trust that paper leaks have chipped away at, year after year. Whether it’s Nilekani’s digital playbook or Deka’s security lens, this task force brings rare, multidisciplinary firepower to a problem that’s frustrated students and parents for far too long.
FAQs
Q1. Who is leading PM Modi’s exam reform task force?
Q2. Why was this task force formed?
It followed the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak controversy and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, aiming to make exams more secure and tech-driven.
