Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday announced the constitution of a “high-powered” task force to recommend reforms aimed at making the country’s examination system more reliable, transparent and technology-driven.

The taskforce will be led by technology expert Nandan Nilekani, Modi said in his official “X” account, addressing student protesters who are demanding an end to question leaks in competitive exams.

Modi’s announcement came a day after Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan was forced to resign amid growing student protests.

In a video message addressed to students, the PM Modi said the government had already taken several steps to safeguard the future of students, including action against those involved in examination malpractice, the establishment of fast-track courts and the introduction of tougher legal provisions through new legislation.

"The Government of India is continuously taking various measures for the future of students.

Those who tampered with the students' future are languishing in jail. We have already established fast-track courts. We are also moving towards enacting new legislation in Parliament that incorporates stringent legal provisions. However, we must look to the future. Our examination system needs to be reliable and transparent, and it must make maximum use of technology. Keeping all these factors in mind, we have decided to constitute a high-powered task force under the leadership of the world-renowned technology expert Nandan Nilekani.

This task force will focus on examination reforms, and based on its report, steps will be taken to ensure the credibility of upcoming examinations at the earliest," PM Modi said. The announcement comes amid the Centre's push to strengthen the examination process following recent controversies over irregularities in competitive examinations. The government has also proposed amendments to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, providing for time-bound investigations, fast-track trials and enhanced penalties for paper leaks and organised examination fraud.

The Nandan Nilekani-led task force is expected to examine the use of technology and recommend systemic reforms to improve transparency, credibility and efficiency in the conduct of public examinations across the country.