Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani has proposed a technology-led approach to tackle question paper leaks in competitive examinations such as the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET). He questioned the idea of having a question paper. "Why do we need to have something called 'a' question paper? Because the moment you have a question paper, then that creates an economic incentive for that to be sold..." he said. His idea is to generate question papers at the last minute instead of preparing a single fixed paper well in advance. Nilekani, who heads the Centre’s high-powered task force on examination reforms, outlined the proposal at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in New Delhi on October 13. The idea is straightforward. If the final question paper does not exist until shortly before an examination, there may be fewer opportunities for people to steal it, circulate it or sell it to candidates. What is Nandan Nilekani’s plan to end NEET question papers? Nilekani wants examination authorities to build a massive bank of questions and use it to generate a fresh paper shortly before the test begins. Instead of printing and distributing one predetermined question paper, the system could select questions from this large repository at the last minute. Artificial intelligence (AI) could potentially help generate the papers on the day of the examination. Explaining the logic behind his proposal, Nilekani questioned the need for a fixed question paper when its existence creates an opportunity for illegal sales. “The moment you have a question paper, then that creates an economic incentive for that to be sold,” he said. "So, the way to solve this is to really have a massive bank of questions, and only at the last minute generate the question paper for that day, and therefore the question of 'a' question paper goes away, and there's no economic incentive for that. The other thing is, of course, how to make sure all exams are done on a computer-based testing, and that requires a network of locations. We have 150,000 locations where a young boy or girl can take a test. That needs to be expanded. I think these are all systemic issues which we will address in our committee. And the Prime Minister is very keen to implement our decisions."he added. Live Events The proposal is an idea under consideration, not a confirmed change to the NEET examination process. Any implementation would require decisions on question quality, security, fairness and the technology needed to conduct tests at a national scale. How can AI-generated question papers prevent leaks? Traditional examinations often require authorities to prepare questions, finalise papers, print them and arrange their secure distribution. Every stage creates potential security risks if someone gains unauthorised access. Nilekani’s proposal seeks to reduce the time between finalising the questions and conducting the examination. A large question bank could contain thousands of questions covering the prescribed syllabus and different levels of difficulty. A secure system could then select a suitable combination shortly before the test. The approach could make it harder to obtain the exact paper in advance. It could also reduce the usefulness of fake or outdated question papers sold to anxious candidates. However, generating questions at the last minute would not automatically eliminate every form of cheating. Authorities would still need to protect the question bank, secure the software and prevent unauthorised access to the final paper. They would also need to ensure that different sets of questions offer comparable difficulty levels. Otherwise, candidates taking different versions of an examination could face unequal conditions. Nandan Nilekani also wants more computer-based tests Alongside AI-generated papers, Nilekani advocated expanding computer-based testing (CBT) across the country. He said India already had around 1.5 lakh locations where candidates could take computer-based tests, but the network needed to grow further. A larger network could help examination authorities move more tests away from conventional paper-based formats. It would also require reliable computers, secure testing software, stable electricity, internet connectivity where needed and trained staff. For candidates, accessibility will be a major consideration. Students in smaller towns and rural areas should have access to properly equipped centres without having to travel excessive distances. The transition would also require safeguards against technical failures. Authorities would need clear procedures for handling power cuts, system crashes and other disruptions during an examination. Why is NEET at the centre of the exam reform debate? NEET-UG is one of India's most consequential entrance examinations. It determines admission to undergraduate medical courses, making the integrity of the test especially important for lakhs of aspiring doctors and their families. Allegations of examination irregularities and paper leaks have repeatedly raised questions about the security of high-stakes tests. The controversy surrounding NEET-UG 2024 intensified demands for stronger safeguards and greater accountability in the examination system. The NEET paper leaks resulted into a huge protest in Delhi earlier this year, which led to resignation of the then Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The Centre also handed over the paper leak probe to the Central Bureau of Investigation. These incidents have put the National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts NEET-UG, under renewed scrutiny. For students who spend years preparing for medical entrance examinations, even the possibility of a compromised paper can undermine confidence in the results. What is Nandan Nilekani's role in exam reforms? Nandan Nilekani is the co-founder of Infosys and a prominent figure in India's technology sector. He also served as the founding chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), which led the development of the Aadhaar programme. On July 26, 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the formation of a high-powered task force on examination reforms under Nilekani's leadership. The panel is examining ways to strengthen the security, design and governance of public examinations. Its work includes finding systemic solutions to problems that have affected the credibility of competitive tests. The task force's recommendations could influence how authorities prepare question papers, secure examination systems and expand digital testing infrastructure. When will the new NEET exam system be implemented? There is no confirmed date for introducing AI-generated question papers or moving NEET-UG entirely to computer-based testing under Nilekani's proposal. The ideas are part of a wider examination reform exercise. The panel will submit its recommendations and authorities would assess the technical requirements, costs, security risks and impact on candidates before introducing any nationwide changes. The biggest challenge will be ensuring that technology improves fairness rather than creating new barriers. A system that works reliably in major cities must also serve students in areas with weaker infrastructure. For now, Nilekani's proposal offers a different way to approach paper leaks. Rather than relying only on tighter security around a fixed paper, it seeks to reduce the value of obtaining that paper in advance. Whether this approach becomes part of India's examination system will depend on how the task force's recommendations are evaluated and implemented. Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source Add Now! (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)
Nandan Nilekani wants to end NEET ‘question papers’
Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani has proposed a technology-led approach to tackle question paper leaks in competitive examinations such as the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET). He questioned the idea of having a question paper. "Why do we need to have something called 'a' question paper? Because the moment you have a question paper, then that creates an economic incentive for that to be sold..." he said. His idea is to generate question papers at the last minute instead of preparing a single fixed paper well in advance. Nilekani, who heads the Centre’s high-powered task force on examination reforms, outlined the proposal at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in New Delhi on October 13. The idea is straightforward. If the final question paper does not exist until shortly before an examination, there may be fewer opportunities for people to steal it, circulate it or sell it to candidates. What is Nandan Nilekani’s plan to end NEET question papers? Nilekani wants examination authorities to build a massive bank of questions and use it to generate a fresh paper shortly before the test begins. Instead of printing and distributing one predetermined question paper, the system could select questions from this large repository at the last minute. Artificial intelligence (AI) could potentially help generate the papers on the day of the examination. Explaining the logic behind his proposal, Nilekani questioned the need for a fixed question paper when its existence creates an opportunity for illegal sales. “The moment you have a question paper, then that creates an economic incentive for that to be sold,” he said. "So, the way to solve this is to really have a massive bank of questions, and only at the last minute generate the question paper for that day, and therefore the question of 'a' question paper goes away, and there's no economic incentive for that. The other thing is, of course, how to make sure all exams are done on a computer-based testing, and that requires a network of locations. We have 150,000 locations where a young boy or girl can take a test. That needs to be expanded. I think these are all systemic issues which we will address in our committee. And the Prime Minister is very keen to implement our decisions."he added. Live Events The proposal is an idea under consideration, not a confirmed change to the NEET examination process. Any implementation would require decisions on question quality, security, fairness and the technology needed to conduct tests at a national scale. How can AI-generated question papers prevent leaks? Traditional examinations often require authorities to prepare questions, finalise papers, print them and arrange their secure distribution. Every stage creates potential security risks if someone gains unauthorised access. Nilekani’s proposal seeks to reduce the time between finalising the questions and conducting the examination. A large question bank could contain thousands of questions covering the prescribed syllabus and different levels of difficulty. A secure system could then select a suitable combination shortly before the test. The approach could make it harder to obtain the exact paper in advance. It could also reduce the usefulness of fake or outdated question papers sold to anxious candidates. However, generating questions at the last minute would not automatically eliminate every form of cheating. Authorities would still need to protect the question bank, secure the software and prevent unauthorised access to the final paper. They would also need to ensure that different sets of questions offer comparable difficulty levels. Otherwise, candidates taking different versions of an examination could face unequal conditions. Nandan Nilekani also wants more computer-based tests Alongside AI-generated papers, Nilekani advocated expanding computer-based testing (CBT) across the country. He said India already had around 1.5 lakh locations where candidates could take computer-based tests, but the network needed to grow further. A larger network could help examination authorities move more tests away from conventional paper-based formats. It would also require reliable computers, secure testing software, stable electricity, internet connectivity where needed and trained staff. For candidates, accessibility will be a major consideration. Students in smaller towns and rural areas should have access to properly equipped centres without having to travel excessive distances. The transition would also require safeguards against technical failures. Authorities would need clear procedures for handling power cuts, system crashes and other disruptions during an examination. Why is NEET at the centre of the exam reform debate? NEET-UG is one of India's most consequential entrance examinations. It determines admission to undergraduate medical courses, making the integrity of the test especially important for lakhs of aspiring doctors and their families. Allegations of examination irregularities and paper leaks have repeatedly raised questions about the security of high-stakes tests. The controversy surrounding NEET-UG 2024 intensified demands for stronger safeguards and greater accountability in the examination system. The NEET paper leaks resulted into a huge protest in Delhi earlier this year, which led to resignation of the then Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The Centre also handed over the paper leak probe to the Central Bureau of Investigation. These incidents have put the National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts NEET-UG, under renewed scrutiny. For students who spend years preparing for medical entrance examinations, even the possibility of a compromised paper can undermine confidence in the results. What is Nandan Nilekani's role in exam reforms? Nandan Nilekani is the co-founder of Infosys and a prominent figure in India's technology sector. He also served as the founding chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), which led the development of the Aadhaar programme. On July 26, 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the formation of a high-powered task force on examination reforms under Nilekani's leadership. The panel is examining ways to strengthen the security, design and governance of public examinations. Its work includes finding systemic solutions to problems that have affected the credibility of competitive tests. The task force's recommendations could influence how authorities prepare question papers, secure examination systems and expand digital testing infrastructure. When will the new NEET exam system be implemented? There is no confirmed date for introducing AI-generated question papers or moving NEET-UG entirely to computer-based testing under Nilekani's proposal. The ideas are part of a wider examination reform exercise. The panel will submit its recommendations and authorities would assess the technical requirements, costs, security risks and impact on candidates before introducing any nationwide changes. The biggest challenge will be ensuring that technology improves fairness rather than creating new barriers. A system that works reliably in major cities must also serve students in areas with weaker infrastructure. For now, Nilekani's proposal offers a different way to approach paper leaks. Rather than relying only on tighter security around a fixed paper, it seeks to reduce the value of obtaining that paper in advance. Whether this approach becomes part of India's examination system will depend on how the task force's recommendations are evaluated and implemented. Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source Add Now! (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)
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