New Delhi: A high-powered task force, set up by the Centre amid the recent protests by student bodies over paper leak allegations at the Jantar Mantar, on Friday invited public suggestions on comprehensive reforms in public examinations, including measures to fix accountability and strengthen institutional arrangements.
The Centre in July announced the constitution of the six-member high-powered task force (HPTF) chaired by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani to examine and recommend reforms related to the conduct, security, design and governance of public examinations – particularly those conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA).
According to a statement issued by the Union Ministry of Personnel, the task force is examining measures to strengthen institutional systems, ensure examination integrity, deploy appropriate technologies, augment infrastructure, promote accessibility, and safeguard student well-being.
The primary objective is to develop a robust, secure, transparent, equitable and future-ready public examination system, the ministry said in the statement.
Seeking to quell the unrest and incorporate ground-level feedback from the protesting students and academicians alike, the task force said it considers it “extremely useful to benefit from the experience, knowledge and perspectives of all the stakeholders”.
Suggestions have been invited from students, parents, teachers, academic institutions, exam-conducting bodies and civil society organisations.
The key focus areas for public feedback include the conduct and security of examinations, assessment methodology, governance structures, accountability mechanisms, and the prevention, detection and redressal of malpractices.
The task force has also sought inputs on leveraging technology, such as secure computer-based testing, creating inclusive frameworks for diverse socio-economic and regional groups, establishing robust grievance redressal systems, and mitigating student stress throughout the examination cycle.
The suggestions may relate to the conduct and security of public examinations, examination design and assessment methodology, governance, accountability and institutional arrangements, and prevention, detection and redressal of examination malpractices, the statement said.
Use of technology, including secure computer-based testing, creation and augmentation of examination infrastructure, inclusive examination framework for better access across social, economic, regional and linguistic groups, transparency, grievance redressal and stakeholder communication are some of the other areas on which suggestions may be sent.
Besides, suggestions have also been invited on measures to promote student well-being throughout the examination process, and on any other measure that may add value to the examination system, the statement said.
The stakeholders have been requested to submit their suggestions by September 13. Submissions can be made in English, Hindi or regional languages through a designated website, phone, WhatsApp or email.
“The inputs received through this public consultation will assist the HPTF in formulating its recommendations to the government,” the ministry said, appealing for wide-ranging and constructive participation.
The government formed the HPTF as a measure to end the stalemate at the Jantar Mantar protest site, where hundreds of aspirants and youth organisations had been demanding structural changes, greater transparency, and strict action against malpractices in national-level competitive tests.
Besides Nilekani, the HPTF includes former Intelligence Bureau director Tapan Deka, ex-ISRO chairman S Somnath, IIT-Chennai Director V Kamakoti, former education secretary Anita Karwal, and logistics expert Amrit Lal Meena as members.
