Government Panel Proposes Ending Fixed Question Papers To Stop Leaks

A government task force has proposed generating exam papers at the last minute using artificial intelligence to prevent question paper leaks across India.

On Tuesday, 13 October 2026, a high-level government panel in New Delhi proposed a major overhaul of how national exams are conducted. Nandan Nilekani, who heads the Centre’s High-Powered Task Force on Reforms in Public Examinations, suggested doing away with a fixed question paper to curb recurring leaks. Speaking at an economic forum in the capital, the Infosys co-founder argued that printing exam papers in advance creates a strong economic incentive for corrupt networks to sell them. Generating question papers at the very last minute removes that financial incentive entirely, he explained. Nilekani suggested building a massive bank of vetted questions and agreed that artificial intelligence could potentially compile the final paper on the day of the exam itself. His panel is currently studying how all public exams across India could transition to computer-based testing. While the country currently has about 1.5 lakh locations equipped for digital tests, Nilekani stressed that this network must expand significantly to serve all candidates. He maintained that exam leaks remain solvable issues if their root causes are tackled with technology.

Why it matters

This debate matters deeply to millions of ordinary Indian families who invest their life savings and hopes into competitive exams. For students, these tests are often the only path to a secure government job or a professional degree. When question papers leak, honest aspirants face heartbreak, wasted years of preparation, and unfair competition. The crisis came to a head earlier this year during the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG), the national medical entrance exam. Almost 22 lakh candidates appeared for the test in pen-and-paper mode before reports emerged that the question paper had been leaked. Widespread student protests erupted across the country, demanding justice and strict accountability from the government. The outrage led Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to resign from his office. Prime Minister Narendra Modi then constituted this high-powered task force on 26 July to restore exam integrity. Its mandate covers exam security, testing infrastructure, technological solutions, accessibility, inclusion, and student well-being. Ensuring clean exams is vital to rebuilding public trust in the education system.

The key proposals

• Nandan Nilekani suggested ending fixed examination papers to eliminate the economic incentive for illegal sales.

• The panel proposed creating a massive question bank and generating test papers at the last minute, possibly using artificial intelligence on the day of the test.

• The task force is examining ways to move all national public examinations from pen and paper to computer-based testing.

• India currently possesses about 1.5 lakh computer test locations, but officials must build a much wider network to accommodate everyone.

• The proposals support ongoing measures to overhaul the National Testing Agency, the central body responsible for running NEET and other key entrance exams.

• The task force's official mandate covers exam security, technology, testing infrastructure, student well-being, and making exams accessible and inclusive for all candidates.

What's next

The high-powered task force is currently examining the next phase of reforms and will submit its final recommendations to the Union government. Implementing these proposals will require the state to build robust digital infrastructure and secure question banks. While technology can solve administrative loopholes, serious questions remain about how the government will execute this transition fairly. Moving millions of candidates to digital testing will require dependable electricity, secure servers, and well-equipped exam centres across both urban and rural regions. Observers and student groups will also be watching to see how the authorities protect digital platforms from hacking and technical glitches. The central government faces the challenge of modernising exam security while keeping tests accessible to every student.