New Delhi, 26 July, 2026: Faced with weeks of nationwide student protests over the NEET examination paper leak, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced the formation of a high-powered task force to overhaul India’s examination system and make it “leak-proof”.
The panel will be headed by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani and includes former ISRO chairman S Somanath, former Intelligence Bureau director Tapan Deka, and IIT Madras Director V Kamakoti.
In a video message to students, Modi said the government would act on the committee’s recommendations to build a more reliable and transparent system that makes “maximum use of technology”. “This task force will focus on examination reforms, and based on its report, steps will be taken to ensure the credibility of upcoming examinations at the earliest,” he said.
The move comes a day after Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned amid sustained protests by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP). Protesters were on roads, police tried to repress them at Jantar Mantar, but they demanded accountability, compensation for families of students who died by suicide, and withdrawal of FIRs against demonstrators.
Alongside the task force, the Centre is set to amend the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024. The draft proposes raising fines to Rs 10 crore, increasing minimum jail terms to 5 years — 7 years for organized crimes — and setting up a Special Task Force to complete paper-leak investigations within 2 months. The government also plans to shift NEET-UG to computer-based testing next year and has sacked 47 NTA officials.
The CJP called off its nationwide agitation on Friday after the government accepted its demands. Opposition leaders including Rahul Gandhi and activist Anna Hazare extended support to the students, calling for greater accountability in exam administration.
With state elections approaching, exam integrity and youth unemployment have emerged as key flash points for the Modi government in its third term.
