Tenure of exam reform panel led by Nilekani extended

The tenure of the exam reform task force, led by Nandan Nilekani, has been extended until 27 January 2027. Due to this decision, the NEET-UG exam to be held in 2027 is likely to be conducted via the pen and paper method. According to officials, a complete transition to Computer Based Test (CBT) before 2028 appears difficult.

According to a report by Hindustan Times, preparing and submitting the task force's report to the government will take time; therefore, there is little possibility of any major changes in the 2027 exam pattern. The NEET-UG exam is conducted every year in May, and preparations are started at least 5 to 6 months in advance. Consequently, it is more likely that the task force's recommendations will be implemented from 2028. The Ministry of Health, National Testing Agency (NTA), and the Ministry of Education may decide how to conduct the 2027 exam after assessing infrastructure and other requirements.

Southern states, particularly Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala, have expressed several concerns regarding the examination method. These states have raised objections regarding infrastructure deficiencies, lack of transparency, state representation in the NTA, and the impact of online examinations on rural candidates. Additionally, suggestions have been made regarding the weightage of school board marks and the differences between various education boards.

Tamil Nadu has presented the findings of the 2021 Justice A.K. Rajan Committee report to the High-Powered Task Force (HPTF). According to this report, Tamil medium, government school, and state board students, as well as candidates from marginalized social groups, have been disproportionately disadvantaged in the NEET admission process. Tamil Nadu has consistently opposed NEET and demanded the restoration of states' authority for medical admissions. The state assembly passed a resolution in August to abolish common entrance exams.

The Tamil Nadu government maintains that medical admissions should be based on Class 12 examination marks. This same argument was previously made by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government. Other suggestions include a demand to give more importance to school board scores and to create mechanisms to ensure parity between different boards. Concerns have also been expressed that students from non-CBSE boards may be disadvantaged, as national-level entrance exams like NEET and JEE are primarily based on the NCERT curriculum.

Karnataka has also demanded greater state participation in decisions related to medical admissions and examinations. In an affidavit on 5 October, the Central Government informed the Supreme Court that this panel has held 18 meetings so far and has conducted more than 40 consultations with various ministries and departments. The task force has received more than 54,000 suggestions and feedback from stakeholders so far. It has been given time until 27 January to consult with states and build consensus on exam reforms.

The six-member task force was chaired by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani. This task force was formed on 27 July. Its primary objective was to recommend measures to strengthen the country's examination system and prevent incidents of question paper leaks.