NEET UG 2026 exam reforms: Nilekani panel consults ex-ISRO chief Radhakrishnan on leak-proof system

In short

The Nandan Nilekani-led task force consulted K Radhakrishnan on September 28, 2026, regarding exam reforms.
The task force, formed in July 2026, aims to make the examination system robust, secure, and transparent.
Radhakrishnan previously chaired a seven-member committee in June 2024, which submitted 101 recommendations.
The Ministry of Education was implementing the 2024 recommendations when another NEET paper leak occurred this year.
The Centre announced NEET will be conducted as a Computer Based Test (CBT) from next year.

The Nandan Nilekani-led high-level task force on exam reforms consulted former ISRO chairman K Radhakrishnan on September 28, 2026. Radhakrishnan previously headed a panel on exam reforms established by the Centre following a paper leak in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) in 2024.

The consultation is part of the Nilekani task force’s mandate to recommend complete reforms to make the examination system leak-proof and improve examination processes, particularly for exams conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), following recent paper leak controversies. The task force is engaging with various stakeholders, including students, parents, teachers, academic institutions, subject matter experts, industry organisations, and exam-conducting bodies.

Background to the Nilekani Task Force

The High-Powered Task Force (HPTF), chaired by Nandan Nilekani, former chairman of UIDAI, was constituted in July 2026. This formation followed widespread protests and the resignation of then Union education minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, after another NEET paper leak occurred this year. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the constitution of this task force a day after Pradhan’s resignation.

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 full 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 tough, secure, transparent, trustworthy and future-ready.” Other members of the Nilekani task force include S Somanath (former ISRO chairman), Tapan Deka (former director of Intelligence Bureau), V Kamakoti (IIT Chennai Director), Anita Karwal (former education secretary), and Amrit Lal Meena (logistics expert).

The Radhakrishnan Committee’s Previous Recommendations

The K Radhakrishnan Committee was a seven-member panel set up in June 2024 by the Centre after the 2024 NEET paper leak. This committee submitted its 101 recommendations in October 2024. The recommendations covered reforms in the examination process, data security protocols, and the structure and functioning of the NTA. The Radhakrishnan panel called for a complete restructuring of the NTA and suggested it restrict its scope strictly to higher education entrance exams.

Key recommendations included enhanced security controls for examination-critical systems, such as question paper systems, candidate registration, fee payment, admit card systems, computer-based testing platforms, OMR processing, normalisation engines, and result systems. The panel also proposed Computer-assisted Secure Pen-and-Paper Testing (CPPT) to eliminate breaches during printing, storage, and transportation of question papers, and a digital authentication framework called DIGI-EXAM. Additionally, it recommended developing at least 1,000 Secure Testing Centres and establishing a dedicated mental-health cell within the NTA. The Radhakrishnan Committee also advised that the medical entrance exam should be conducted in phases and a computer or hybrid mode, proposing Multi-Session Testing and Multi-Stage Testing for NEET-UG.

Implementation and Current Status

Following the submission of the Radhakrishnan Committee’s recommendations, the Centre established the High Powered Steering Committee (HPSC), also headed by Radhakrishnan, to monitor their implementation. The Ministry of Education was in the process of implementing these suggestions when the latest NEET paper leak occurred this year. This incident led to the Supreme Court reprimanding the NTA, stating “it has not learnt its lessons,” and asking the Centre to submit a report on the status of implementation of the Radhakrishnan Committee’s recommendations.

A senior 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.” The Nilekani task force’s recommendations are expected to use the latest technologies. The task force has already held discussions with the Director General of NTA and the Department of Higher Education. The Centre has announced that NEET will be conducted as a Computer Based Test (CBT) from next year, aligning with some of the Radhakrishnan Committee’s earlier advice for a computer or hybrid mode of examination.

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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