Doctors'body to present exam reform blueprint before PM-consitituted high power task force

New Delhi: A doctors' body is going to present its suggestions and recommendations on examination reforms before the High Power Task Force (HPTF) headed by technology expert and Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani and constituted by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to strengthen the country's examination system.

The meeting will be held on August 27, 2026, at 11 AM at the National Recruitment Agency (NRA) office in New Delhi and will be chaired by Shri Amrit Lal Meena, Member of the HPTF.

In an email sent to the United Doctors Front (UDF) association's Chairperson Dr. Lakshya Mittal, the HPTF invited him for a detailed discussion and requested him to keep relevant information and material ready for the meeting.

Why was the High Power Task Force created?

The HPTF was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 26, 2026, amid the major controversy over examination irregularities and the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak.

The announcement came shortly after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on July 25, following weeks of student protests over examination-related issues.

While announcing the decision, the Prime Minister said the examination system needed to become reliable, transparent and technology-driven, and announced a high-powered task force under technology expert Nandan Nilekani.

Apart from Nilekani, the task force's members include domain experts from different streams. The other members are Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) former chairman S Somanath; Intelligence Bureau former director Tapan Deka, IIT Chennai director V Kamakoti, former education secretary Anita Kawal and logistics expert Amrit Lal Meena.

The broad has been created to recommend structural and technology-driven reforms in India's examination system, particularly examinations conducted by the NTA. The task force has been given three months to submit its recommendations

Nearly one month after its formation, the panel had not yet issued any recommendations and has recently called the UDF to share their views and recommendations on examination reforms.

UDF seeks replacement of NTA

In the meeting, UDF is expected to place a detailed blueprint on comprehensive examination reforms, particularly focusing on prevention of paper leaks, question-paper security, secure transportation and storage, cybersecurity, computer-based testing, examination-centre security, pre- and post-examination safeguards, accountability and protection of students.

It will also share suggestions related to the institutionalisation of examination reforms, permanent professional manpower, cybersecurity and digital forensics, independent audits, chain-of-custody mechanisms, certified examination centres and time-bound implementation of existing reform recommendations.

One of the main demands of UDF is the replacement of NTA with a statutory National Examination Authority through an Act of Parliament.

"India’s examination system cannot continue to depend upon ad-hoc arrangements and corrective measures after every controversy. The future of crores of students and young Indians requires a permanent, professionally staffed, technologically secure and accountable examination institution," said Dr. Lakshya Mittal.

The doctors' body has consistently raised concerns regarding examination integrity and has also pursued the issue before the Hon’ble Supreme Court, seeking systemic and long-term reforms rather than temporary fixes.

Dr. Mittal said, "Our objective is not merely to secure the next examination. We want to help build an examination system in which paper leaks become structurally difficult, responsibility is clearly fixed, technology is secure and students can have complete faith in the process. For every student who studies hard, the examination system must be worthy of their trust."

Parliamentary reccomendation

A Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education suggested that the NEET UG be conducted in multiple phases instead of on a single day to reduce the logistical challenges associated with conducting the country's largest medical entrance examination.

The suggestion was made during a meeting where officials from the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the Ministry of Education briefed Members of Parliament on the conduct of the NEET UG 2026 re-examination and proposed reforms, including a future transition to a computer-based test (CBT).

During the discussions, committee members also appreciated the conduct of the June 21 re-examination, describing it as "secure and well-managed" under the enhanced security measures implemented by the NTA.

The members suggested that the National Eligibility-Entrance Test (NEET UG) be conducted in multiple phases to ease the ''logistical burden''.

NEET paper leak

The NEET UG 2026 exam was conducted on May 3 by the National Testing Agency and was held from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM in pen-and-paper mode. Over 22.7 lakh aspirants appeared for the examination this year. It took place across 551 cities in India and 14 cities abroad, covering over 5,400 centres.

However, on May 12, 2026, the NTA declared the examination held on May 3 as cancelled and subsequently announced a re-examination on June 21, 2026.

This came in the backdrop of the probe by the Rajasthan Police Special Operations Group, which reportedly found a “guess paper” containing more than 100 questions similar to those asked in the NEET UG examination. The question paper series under scrutiny has been described as a “guess paper” which reportedly contained around 410 questions. Out of these, nearly 120 questions are alleged to have appeared in the Biology and Chemistry sections of the examination.

In the aftermath of the exam cancellation, protests were held, with aspirants and members of the medical fraternity condemning NTA and the Education Ministry for the failure.

Due to the alleged controversy, the central government decided to refer the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation for a comprehensive inquiry into the allegations. Based on the Centre's direction, the CBI registered an FIR in the case and so far arrested 13 people.

Also read- NEET row: PM Modi announces setting up fast-track courts to expedite paper leak trials