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- AI to generate question papers instantly on exam day.
- Mandatory shift to computer-based tests for all exams.
- Government keen to implement reforms to boost transparency.
Exam Reform Task Force Report: Amid repeated paper leak concerns in NEET and other competitive exams, Exam Reform Task Force head Nandan Nilekani has proposed a major shift. Speaking at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum on Tuesday, he suggested that question papers should be generated at the last minute from a large question bank.
Nilekani argued that a pre-prepared paper creates a financial incentive for illegal sales. If the paper is created randomly on exam day itself, nothing fixed exists to leak, and the profit motive disappears.
Delhi | On NEET paper leak issue, Infosys Co-founder Nandan Nilekani says, "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... So, 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, and therefore the question of 'a' question paper goes away, and there's no economic incentive for that. The other thing is, of course, how to make sure all exams are done on a computer-based testing, and that requires a network of locations. We have 150,000 locations where a young boy or girl can take a test. That needs to be expanded. I think these are all systemic issues which we will address in our committee. And the Prime Minister is very keen to implement our decisions..." (file pic)
— ANI (@ANI) October 13, 2026
Why Fixed Papers Invite Leaks?
Nilekani explained that the root of the problem lies in the existence of a ready-made question paper. Once a paper is printed, stored, and transported, it passes through many hands, and each stage becomes an opportunity for leaks. Gangs that sell papers profit precisely because the paper is fixed in advance. Remove that certainty, he said, and the business model collapses.
AI Can Build the Paper on Exam Day
Asked whether Artificial Intelligence could generate a question paper instantly on the day of the examination, Nilekani answered without hesitation. “Yes, absolutely,” he said, adding that AI can draw a paper from a large question bank on the exam day itself, according to news agency ANI. Because the selection happens at the last moment, even officials involved in the process would not know the final questions in advance.
Computer-Based Tests for Every Exam
The second pillar of the proposal is a full move to computer-based tests (CBT). Nilekani said all examinations should be conducted on computers, which requires a strong network of centres. India currently has around 150,000 centres where students can take an exam, but he stressed that this number must be expanded to meet the scale of national exams like NEET.
Government Keen to Act:
Nilekani heads the committee reviewing structural reforms in the examination system. He indicated that the government is eager to implement the recommendations on the ground as soon as possible. “I believe these are all system-related issues that we will discuss within our committee, and the Prime Minister is very keen to implement our decisions,” he said.
What It Means for Students?
In recent times, allegations of leaks in NEET and other national-level exams have created deep worry among students and parents, many of whom spend years preparing. A system that generates papers on the spot could restore faith in the process, making results depend on merit rather than access to leaked material.
The technical and structural proposals from the Nilekani committee could set new benchmarks for transparency and security in India’s examination system. Much will depend on how quickly centres expand, how securely the question bank is protected, and how the AI-driven process is audited. If implemented well, the reforms could make last-minute leaks a thing of the past.