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29 August 2026

Nandan Nilekani Task Force on Public Examination Reforms

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Why in news

  • High-Powered Task Force constituted by the Central Government invited public inputs to reform the design, security, and governance of public examinations.

What is the High-Powered Task Force?

  • Constituted under the chairmanship of Shri Nandan Nilekani to review systemic vulnerabilities in public entrance and recruitment examinations.
  • Examines structural, administrative, and technological security procedures of national testing bodies including the National Testing Agency.

Key Areas of Examination Reform

  • Formulating robust measures for prevention, early detection, and legal redressal of examination paper leaks and technological malpractices.
  • Standardizing secure digital and physical examination infrastructure across diverse socio-economic and linguistic regions.
  • Creating institutional grievance redressal mechanisms and incorporating student well-being protocols into test administration.

Why it matters

  • Ensures public trust and institutional credibility in high-stakes merit-based entrance examinations.
  • Complements legislative frameworks such as the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act to deter paper leaks.

Key terms

National Testing Agency

An autonomous society under the Department of Higher Education established to conduct standardized entrance tests for educational institutions.

Prelims facts

  • High-Powered Task Force on public examination reforms is headed by Nandan Nilekani.

Mains discussion

  • Discuss the technological and institutional reforms required to safeguard integrity and transparency in national public examinations.

Source: PIB English

Same topic · past papers

UPSC has asked this before

These previous-year questions sit on the same topic. Open one to practise the earlier ask.

  1. 2024 · Q11 · GS II · 15 marks

    What are the aims and objects of recently passed and enforced, The Public Examination (prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024? Whether University/State Education Board examinations, too, are covered under the Act?

    View answer →

  2. 2026 · Q20 · GS III · 15 marks

    Discuss counterfeit currency and money laundering as major sources of terror funding in India. State the actions being taken at International level to check these menaces. Highlight the role of Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and methods of compliance by its member states in preventing terror funding.

    View answer →

  3. 2026 · Q14 · General Studies · 2 marks

    | Y.H. Malegam Committee | Preparing a roadmap for reforms in Microfinance sector in India | Reserve Bank of India In how many of the above rows are all the details correctly matched?

    View answer →

  4. 2026 · Q18 · General Studies · 2 marks

    Consider the following assertion: The genesis of political alliances based on community lay in the very nature of the Montague- Chelmsford Reforms, 1919. Which of the following statements support/supports the above assertion? 1. Reforms retained and extended the principle of separate electorates. 2. Separate electorates were supposed to counter Indian nationalism, which was growing stronger. 3. Deprived classes rallied around the favours inherent in separate electorates. Select the answer using the code given below:

    View answer →

  5. 2026 · Q98 · General Studies · 2 marks

    With reference to different Committees in India, consider the following details: 1. R.N. Malhotra Committee - Comprehensive reforms of Insurance sector in India - Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India. 2. L.C. Gupta Committee - Preparing a roadmap for the introduction of derivatives trading in India - Securities and Exchange Board of India. 3. Urjit R. Patel Committee - Preparing a roadmap for reforming bank lending to the Housing sector - Reserve Bank of India. 4. Y.H. Malegam Committee - Preparing a roadmap for reforms in Microfinance sector in India - Reserve Bank of India. In how many of the above rows are all the details correctly matched?

    View answer →

← All Mains notes for 29 August 2026

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