Nandan Nilekani Named Chairperson of PM Modi's New Task Force on Examination Reforms

Nandan Nilekani, the Infosys co-founder and architect of the Aadhaar project, has been appointed chairperson of a new high-powered task force on examination reforms, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on 26 July 2026.

The appointment of Nandan Nilekani comes at a critical juncture for India's examination system, a day after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned amid nationwide protests over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak and other irregularities in competitive exams.

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Who Is Nandan Nilekani?

Nandan Nilekani was born in Bengaluru in 1955 and studied electrical engineering at IIT Bombay. He met N R Narayana Murthy during his first job and went on to co-found Infosys in 1981 along with Murthy and five other engineers, later serving as the company's chief executive officer from 2002 to 2007.

Beyond his corporate career, Nandan Nilekani is widely known as the architect of the Aadhaar project, India's unique identification system, which was conceived under the UPA government in 2006 to plug leakages in subsidy delivery. He went on to lead the Unique Identification Authority of India, or UIDAI, that was set up to implement the initiative.

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Nandan Nilekani has also co-founded NASSCOM and the Bengaluru chapter of The IndUS Entrepreneurs, and has served on research bodies including the National Council of Applied Economic Research and the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's third-highest civilian honour, in 2006.

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What Is the Exam Reforms Task Force Under Nandan Nilekani?

The task force led by Nandan Nilekani is officially named the High-Powered Task Force on Examination Reforms and has been given the mandate to evaluate the entire public examination lifecycle and recommend structural, administrative and technology-driven changes.

Member	Background
Nandan Nilekani (Chairperson)	Infosys co-founder, Aadhaar architect
S. Somanath	Former ISRO Chairman
Tapan Deka	Former Intelligence Bureau Director
V. Kamakoti	Director, IIT Madras
Anita Karwal	Former School Education Secretary
Amrit Lal Meena	Logistics expert and senior IAS officer

PM Modi said the task force would submit a report and stressed the need for a reliable and transparent examination system backed by greater use of technology, adding that the government would act on the panel's recommendations to strengthen exams conducted by the National Testing Agency.

Background: Why the Task Force Was Formed

The formation of the task force under Nandan Nilekani follows months of criticism over alleged lapses in major entrance examinations, triggered by the May 2026 NEET-UG paper leak that sparked nationwide protests. The crisis led to Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation as education minister, with Union Minister Pralhad Joshi taking additional charge of the education ministry on 25 July 2026.

Alongside the task force, the government has also announced fast-track courts to prosecute those involved in exam malpractice and indicated it is moving towards new legislation with stringent legal provisions to secure the examination process going forward.

Why Nandan Nilekani Was Chosen to Lead the Panel

Nandan Nilekani's track record in building and scaling large technology-driven public systems, most notably Aadhaar, is seen as central to why the government picked him for this role. Restoring public trust in the National Testing Agency and the broader examination ecosystem is expected to require exactly the kind of large-scale, technology-first systems thinking that defined his work on Aadhaar.

Conclusion

Nandan Nilekani now leads a six-member task force tasked with overhauling India's public examination systems, following the NEET-UG paper leak crisis and the resulting political and administrative changes at the education ministry. The panel's recommendations, once submitted, are expected to shape the next phase of examination reform in India. Readers should follow official government and National Testing Agency communications for further updates on the task force's work.

Frequently Asked Questions FAQs

Who is Nandan Nilekani?

Ans. Nandan Nilekani is the co-founder of Infosys, where he served as CEO from 2002 to 2007, and is widely known as the architect of India's Aadhaar project. He was born in Bengaluru in 1955 and studied electrical engineering at IIT Bombay.

Why was Nandan Nilekani appointed to head the exam reforms task force?

Ans. Nandan Nilekani was appointed chairperson of the task force because of his track record in building large technology-driven public systems, most notably the Aadhaar project, which the government hopes will translate into a more secure examination system.

When did PM Modi announce the task force led by Nandan Nilekani?

Ans. PM Modi announced the formation of the task force led by Nandan Nilekani on 26 July 2026, a day after Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as education minister.

Who are the other members of the task force alongside Nandan Nilekani?

Ans. Alongside Nandan Nilekani, the six-member task force includes former ISRO Chairman S. Somanath, former Intelligence Bureau Director Tapan Deka, IIT Madras Director V. Kamakoti, former School Education Secretary Anita Karwal, and logistics expert Amrit Lal Meena.

What triggered the formation of the exam reforms task force?

Ans. The task force was formed following the May 2026 NEET-UG paper leak, which sparked nationwide protests and ultimately led to Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation.

What is Nandan Nilekani's connection to Infosys?

Ans. Nandan Nilekani co-founded Infosys in 1981 along with N R Narayana Murthy and other engineers, and later served as the company's chief executive officer from 2002 to 2007.

What will the task force led by Nandan Nilekani do?

Ans. The task force led by Nandan Nilekani will evaluate the entire public examination lifecycle and recommend structural, administrative and technology-driven reforms, and is expected to submit a report to the government.