3 weeks ago

Centre Forms Nandan Nilekani Panel to Overhaul India's Examination System

Centre Forms Nandan Nilekani Panel to Overhaul India's Examination System
'A Student's Life Can't Be Held Hostage To A 3-Hour Performance' · rediff.com

In India, big exams decide who gets into college and medical school, and millions of students take them every year.

Sometimes, bad people steal the question papers before the exam, which is very unfair to students.

This year, the paper for a very important medical exam called NEET-UG was leaked, so the exam had to be cancelled and held again.

The Indian government has now asked a smart team of experts, led by a man named Nandan Nilekani, to find ways to stop these leaks.

The team includes space scientists, engineers, and other experienced people.

Some experts say better computers and technology will make exams safer.

Others say technology is not enough, and the government should create more seats in colleges and let students try more than once.

When there aren't enough seats, cheating becomes a big problem because students feel too much pressure.

Many states have also made strict new laws to punish people who cheat or leak papers.

The expert team will now decide the best way to make exams fair for everyone.

Key facts

Panel head
Nandan Nilekani, Infosys cofounder and former UIDAI chairperson
Panel members
6, including former ISRO chief S Somanath, IIT Madras director V Kamakoti, Anita Karwal, Tapan Deka and Amrit Lal Meena
NEET-UG 2026 candidates
Over 2 million for 137,000 medical seats
NEET-UG qualifiers
About 1.1 million, nearly 90% of whom will not get a medical seat
CBSE Class 12 results 2026
1.76 million students appeared; 85.2% passed
CUET seats
About 300,000 openings across 240 universities
Exam cost per student
Rs 2,493 (CBSE); Rs 1,200 (NTA)
Karnataka anti-cheating law
5-12 years imprisonment and fines from Rs 15 lakh to Rs 10 crore

Quotes

T V Mohandas Pai

Former Infosys CFO and educational institution governor

“"The life of a student cannot be held hostage to a three‑hour performance," he said.”
rediff.com

Sources

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