Committee chaired by Nandan Nilekani to recommend exam reforms: Centre tells Supreme Court

The Central government on Monday informed the Supreme Court that it has constituted a high level committee chaired by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani to explore and recommend reforms for conducting competitive examinations in India.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Central government, told a Bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe that government has taken a very serious view of the recent question paper leaks including for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and has already declared an expert high level committee to recommend reforms.

Besides Nilekani, the committee also comprises former ISRO chairman S Somanath and former Intelligence Bureau (IB) director Tapan Deka among others.

"It is my duty to point out that the central government has taken a very serious view and a high level committee has been constituted. The Prime Minister has already declared. The high level committee will be chaired by Nandan Nilekani, S Somanath (former ISRO chairman), Tapan Deka (former IB director, he was the person who played a major role in finding out the earlier lacunas in NEET), V Kamakoti (Director, IIT Madras), Anita Karwal (former union education secretary), and Amrit Lal Meena, he’s a logistics expert," the SG said.

The Court was hearing a plea by Supreme Court hears plea by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Sudhakar Singh seeking NEET to be conducted in computer-based mode.

The petition was filed after the Union government and the National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelled NEET-UG 2026 held on May 3 amid allegations of a widespread paper leak.

When the matter came up for hearing today, the Bench said that present plea raises certain good issues.

"There are many petitions we have not entertained, but in this one certain good issues have been raised," the Bench remarked.

SG Mehta pointed out that there are similar petitions already pending before the Court and the present plea can be heard along with that.

"Your lordships are examining some other petitions (relating to the same issue)," the SG said.

"When the transition occurs from physical conduct to online, what additional safeguards need to be taken, how the database is secured etc," the Court asked.

"That’s why we have Mr. Nilekani, he’s an expert on the subject," the SG said.

"Data storage is also an issue. We have listed other petitions on Monday (August 3). We will hear it along with that," the Court said while deferring the plea.

Similar petitions filed by Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) and United Doctors Front are already pending before the apex court.

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