Nandan Nilekani, who heads the government's high-powered task force on exam reforms, has proposed doing away with fixed question papers altogether — suggesting instead that papers be generated by AI at the last minute on exam day from a massive digital question bank.
Speaking at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in New Delhi on Tuesday, the Infosys co-founder argued that the very existence of a ready-made question paper is the root of the leak problem. "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, according to ANI.
Remove the paper, remove the market
Under his proposal, a large repository of questions would be built once, and technology would assemble each day's paper only shortly before the test begins — leaving nothing fixed in advance to leak and collapsing the business model of gangs that sell papers. "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," he said. Asked whether AI could generate a paper instantly on exam day, he answered without hesitation: "Yes, absolutely."
Nationwide shift to computer-based testing
Nilekani also pushed for moving all public examinations to computer-based testing, conducted through a network of designated centres. India has roughly 1.5 lakh locations that could potentially be used, he said, but that network would need significant expansion to handle the country's exam load.
Backing from the top
The task force was constituted in July following widespread student protests over the NEET-UG paper leak controversy, which led to the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, NDTV Profit reported. The committee is examining structural, security and governance overhauls for testing bodies such as the National Testing Agency, though it has not yet submitted its report. Nilekani indicated the proposals are likely to find support at the top: "The prime minister is very keen to implement our suggestions," he said.
If adopted, the reforms would amount to the biggest redesign of how India conducts examinations in decades — and a test of whether technology can outrun the leak industry.
Sources:
- NDTV Profit: Ditch printed question papers to stop exam leaks, says Nandan Nilekani
- ETV Bharat: Nandan Nilekani proposes AI use to prevent exam leaks, calls for CBT across country
- The Daily Jagran: Nandan Nilekani-led exam reform task force proposes strategy to stop paper leaks
Speaking at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in New Delhi on Tuesday, the Infosys co-founder argued that the very existence of a ready-made question paper is the root of the leak problem. "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, according to ANI.
Remove the paper, remove the market
Under his proposal, a large repository of questions would be built once, and technology would assemble each day's paper only shortly before the test begins — leaving nothing fixed in advance to leak and collapsing the business model of gangs that sell papers. "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," he said. Asked whether AI could generate a paper instantly on exam day, he answered without hesitation: "Yes, absolutely."
Nationwide shift to computer-based testing
Nilekani also pushed for moving all public examinations to computer-based testing, conducted through a network of designated centres. India has roughly 1.5 lakh locations that could potentially be used, he said, but that network would need significant expansion to handle the country's exam load.
Backing from the top
The task force was constituted in July following widespread student protests over the NEET-UG paper leak controversy, which led to the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, NDTV Profit reported. The committee is examining structural, security and governance overhauls for testing bodies such as the National Testing Agency, though it has not yet submitted its report. Nilekani indicated the proposals are likely to find support at the top: "The prime minister is very keen to implement our suggestions," he said.
If adopted, the reforms would amount to the biggest redesign of how India conducts examinations in decades — and a test of whether technology can outrun the leak industry.
Sources:
- NDTV Profit: Ditch printed question papers to stop exam leaks, says Nandan Nilekani
- ETV Bharat: Nandan Nilekani proposes AI use to prevent exam leaks, calls for CBT across country
- The Daily Jagran: Nandan Nilekani-led exam reform task force proposes strategy to stop paper leaks
