Nandan Nilekani — File Image

NEW DELHI: The Centre has extended the tenure of the Nandan Nilekani-led task force on examination reforms till January 2027.

The six-member panel, constituted in July following the NEET question paper leak controversy, was earlier expected to submit its report by October-end.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the panel a day after Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as Union education minister following massive student protests at Delhi's Jantar Mantar on July 25.

The task force has received more than 50,000 suggestions from students, parents, teachers, academic institutions, subject experts, industry organisations and examination-conducting bodies.

"The stakeholder consultations have been going on. The government has also submitted an affidavit in the Supreme Court listing the progress made by the panel so far. The panel has now been granted time till January 2027 to submit its report," a source said.

The panel has also consulted former Isro chairman K. Radhakrishnan, who headed a committee constituted after the 2024 NEET paper leak. That committee submitted its recommendations in October 2024.

The Centre subsequently constituted a high-powered steering committee, also headed by Radhakrishnan, to oversee implementation of the recommendations.

The government was implementing those measures when another NEET paper leak this year triggered widespread protests.

The Centre subsequently announced plans to conduct NEET as a computer-based test from 2027. The Radhakrishnan committee had also recommended conducting the examination in phases and introducing a computer-based or hybrid system.

Besides Nilekani, the task force comprises former Isro chairman S. Somanath, former Intelligence Bureau director Tapan Deka, IIT Madras director V. Kamakoti, former education secretary Anita Karwal and logistics expert Amrit Lal Meena.

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