Task Force Led by Nandan Nilekani Seeks Suggestions for Public Exam Reforms by September 13

New Delhi, August 28: A high-level task force (HPTF) chaired by Nandan Nilekani has called for suggestions from all stakeholders, including students, parents, teachers, and civil society organizations, to improve public examinations. The deadline for submissions is September 13.

This task force, established by the government, includes prominent figures such as former ISRO chairman S. Somnath, former IB director Tapan Deka, IIT Madras director V. Kamakoti, former education secretary Anita Karwal, and logistics expert Amrit Lal Meena.

The task force is inviting input on various topics related to the conduct and security of public examinations, examination systems and evaluation methods, administrative accountability, and the prevention, identification, and resolution of irregularities in exams.

Additionally, suggestions are sought for secure computer-based testing (CBT), expanding the examination framework, utilizing modern technology, and developing a more accessible and inclusive examination system for social, economic, regional, and linguistic groups.

The task force aims to strengthen the public examination system, ensure fairness and security in testing, adopt new technologies, enhance examination infrastructure, and protect the interests and welfare of students.

This initiative comes at a time when student protests have erupted nationwide over alleged paper leak incidents in recent months. The protests subsided last month following the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan.

Meanwhile, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has recently appointed two new directors and a joint director to strengthen its operations. According to official orders, 2012 batch IAS officer Prasanna Venkatesh V and 2012 batch IPS officer Ravi Kumar Singh have been appointed as directors at the NTA. Prasanna Venkatesh will serve at the NTA for five years under the central deputation scheme.

Additionally, Ravi Kumar Singh, an IPS officer from the Andhra Pradesh cadre, has also been appointed as a director at the NTA after being recommended for central deputation by the Ministry of Home Affairs. Previously, he served as Deputy Commissioner in the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Delhi Police.

Furthermore, Amit Samdaria, a 2016 batch Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, has been appointed as joint director (under-secretary level) at the NTA for four years.

The government believes that these measures will help make the country’s examination system more reliable, transparent, and technology-enabled.