NEET UG exam design changes: Nilekani questions need for single paper amid leak concerns

In short

Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani suggested creating a massive question bank and generating exam papers at the last minute to reduce the incentive for leaks.
He advocated for greater use of computer-based testing (CBT) for entrance exams, which would necessitate expanding the current network of 150,000 testing locations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on July 26, 2026, the formation of a high-powered task force led by Nilekani to make public examinations leak-proof and technology-driven.
The Supreme Court indicated on July 27, 2026, it would consider suggestions from this task force regarding the transition of NEET-UG to a computer-based format.
The Union government filed an affidavit on August 4, 2026, confirming it is considering shifting NEET-UG to CBT, following the cancellation of the May 3, 2026, examination due to alleged paper leaks.

Nandan Nilekani, co-founder of Infosys, has questioned the fundamental design of entrance examinations, specifically the reliance on a single question paper, amidst ongoing concerns over the NEET paper leak issue and widespread student protests across India. Nilekani suggested that the existence of ‘a’ question paper creates an economic incentive for it to be sold, proposing systemic changes to how examinations are designed and conducted to prevent such leaks.

These suggestions come as the Union government and the Supreme Court address the integrity of competitive entrance tests, particularly after the NEET-UG 2026 examination, held on May 3, 2026, was cancelled due to allegations of a widespread paper leak. This incident led to the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on July 25, 2026, and the subsequent appointment of Pralhad Joshi as the new Education Minister on July 26, 2026.

Proposed Reforms for Examination Design

Nilekani has put forth a vision for reforming examination design, advocating for a shift away from the traditional single question paper model. He proposed creating a vast bank of questions from which exam papers could be generated at the last minute. This method, according to Nilekani, aims to significantly reduce the financial incentive associated with leaking question papers, as the specific paper would not be known in advance.

He also called for an increased adoption of computer-based testing (CBT) across entrance examinations. While acknowledging the benefits of CBT, Nilekani noted that its widespread implementation would require a substantial expansion of the existing network of examination centres. Currently, there are 150,000 locations where students can take a test, and this network would need to grow to support a broader transition to computer-based formats.

High-Powered Task Force and Supreme Court Involvement

In response to the examination security crisis, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on July 26, 2026, the formation of a high-powered task force led by Nandan Nilekani. This task force is mandated to recommend measures to make the public examination system leak-proof and technology-driven. Its members include former ISRO chairman S. Somanath, former Intelligence Bureau Director Tapan Deka, IIT Madras Director V. Kamakoti, former Education Secretary Anita Karwal, and logistics expert Amrit Lal Meena.

The Supreme Court, on July 27, 2026, indicated its intention to seek suggestions from this task force, particularly regarding the transition of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for Undergraduate (NEET-UG) to a computer-based test. Justice P.S. Narasimha highlighted concerns about securing databases and data storage during the transition to online exams. A petition filed by RJD MP Sudhakar Singh had also sought reforms in NEET-UG, including a transition to CBT. The Centre filed a compliance affidavit before the Supreme Court on August 4, 2026, stating that it is considering shifting NEET-UG to CBT. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the matter on August 3, 2026, alongside other pending NEET reform petitions.

Legislative Measures and Enhanced Security

Alongside systemic reforms, the Union government has introduced legislative measures to deter examination fraud. The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, was circulated among Members of Parliament on July 25, 2026. This bill seeks to increase the imprisonment period for paper leaks from three to five years to five to 10 years and proposes to enhance the maximum fine from ₹10 lakh to ₹50 lakh. The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Act, 2026, provides for up to 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to ₹5 crore.

Prime Minister Modi also announced the establishment of fast-track courts for the speedy trials of NEET paper leak cases, emphasizing the government’s commitment to safeguarding the interests of students. For the NEET-UG re-examination held on June 21, authorities deployed extensive security measures, including 51,311 signal jammers, 1.38 lakh CCTV cameras, and 87,000 personnel for frisking and biometric verification, underscoring the scale of efforts to secure examinations.

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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