NEET exam reforms: Nandan Nilekani panel consults K Radhakrishnan on NTA overhaul

The Nandan Nilekani-led high-level task force on exam reforms has consulted former ISRO chairman K Radhakrishnan as part of its efforts to recommend thorough reforms for the National Testing Agency (NTA). The consultation took place in New Delhi, focusing on making the exam system leakproof, tough, secure, transparent, trustworthy, and future-ready following recent NEET paper leaks.

The task force, constituted in July, is reviewing exam processes and aims to use the latest technologies for its recommendations. This move comes after widespread protests and the resignation of the then Union education minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, following another NEET paper leak this year.

Background to the Reform Efforts

The Nandan Nilekani-led task force was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi a day after the resignation of the then Union education minister. This task force is reviewing exam processes and will recommend reforms anchored in relying on the latest technologies. Its members include former ISRO chairman S Somanath, former director of Intelligence Bureau Tapan Deka, IIT Chennai Director V Kamakoti, former education secretary Anita Karwal, and logistics expert Amrit Lal Meena.

A senior official stated, “The High-Powered Task Force (HPTF) was set up under the chairmanship of Nandan Nilekani, former chairman, UIDAI, to study and recommend complete reforms in the examinations conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). The HPTF is reviewing the exam processes and will recommend reforms to make the examination system reliable, secure, transparent, trustworthy and future-ready.”

Radhakrishnan Committee’s Previous Recommendations

The consultation with K Radhakrishnan is significant as he previously chaired a seven-member panel, known as the Radhakrishnan Committee, which was set up in June 2024 following the 2024 NEET paper leak. This committee submitted its recommendations in October 2024, proposing 101 reforms for the examination process, improvement in data security protocols, and the structure and functioning of the NTA.

The Radhakrishnan Committee recommended a complete restructuring of the NTA and enhanced security controls for examination-critical systems. These systems include question paper systems, candidate registration, fee payment, admit card systems, computer-based testing platforms, OMR processing, normalisation engines, and result systems. The committee also suggested that NTA must restrict its scope strictly to higher education entrance exams and called for overhauling NTA’s governance, security, and digital infrastructure. The panel spent 23 days hearing from students, parents, and experts, collecting over 37,000 public inputs.

Implementation and Supreme Court Intervention

Following the Radhakrishnan Committee’s recommendations, the Centre established the High Powered Steering Committee (HPSC), also headed by K Radhakrishnan, to monitor their implementation. The Ministry of Education was in the process of implementing these suggestions when another NEET paper leak occurred this year, leading to further controversy.

The Supreme Court reprimanded the NTA following this year’s paper leak, stating that “it has not learnt its lessons.” The Court also asked the Centre to submit a report on the status of implementation of the Radhakrishnan Committee’s recommendations, stressing the need to institutionalise the NEET process with a permanent structure and staff at the NTA. An official noted, “The recommendations made by the previous panel are being studied by the new task force. The Supreme Court had also asked the Centre to submit a report on the status of implementation of the recommendations.”

Proposed Technological and Infrastructure Changes

Both the Radhakrishnan Committee and the current Nilekani task force have emphasized technological advancements in exam conduct. The Radhakrishnan panel had proposed encrypted digital delivery of question papers to exam centers and a system called DIGI-EXAM using Aadhaar, biometrics, and AI for student verification. It also called for 1,000 secure government-run exam centers, mobile testing buses, and mental health support within the NTA.

The Centre has announced that NEET will be conducted in computer-based test mode from next year, a transition that the Radhakrishnan Committee had also recommended, suggesting a computer or hybrid mode for the medical entrance examination. The Nandan Nilekani-led task force is consulting various stakeholders, including students, parents, teachers, academic institutions, subject matter experts, industry organisations, and exam-conducting bodies, and has held detailed discussions with the DG NTA and the Department of Higher Education.

Further reading

• BPT 2026: Apply March-April for admissions; NEET not mandatory
• BPT 2026: Apply now for admission; NEET not mandatory
• NEET UG application form: eligibility, dates and how to apply Next step
• Delhi University SOL admission 2026 ends October 13: apply for UG, PG courses without CUET
• Ladakh Central Pool MBBS/BDS: Apply by Sep 10 for 2026-27 single merit list Applications open
• NEET UG: complete exam guide

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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