India introduced the National Testing Agency (NTA) in 2017 to conduct fair, standardised exams for medicine, engineering and university admission. The agency was supposed to eliminate paper leaks, administrative errors and cheating, but the system has repeatedly failed.
In June 2026, more than two million students had to retake the high‑stakes medical entrance exam after the paper was leaked. The fiasco sparked week‑long, youth‑led protests that ultimately led to the resignation of the federal education minister.
In response, the government commissioned a high‑profile task force led by tech billionaire Nandan Nilekani to recommend reforms aimed at restoring confidence in the examination system.
Experts point out that the situation is symptomatic of deeper issues. It is not merely leaked papers; it is the NTA’s accountability, the reliance on temporary staff, and the centralised exam design that need to be addressed.
BJ Rao, former member of the 2024 panel and current head of SGT University, urges a shift to computer‑based examinations that reduce human involvement. He also insists on permanent staff with academic and technical expertise to oversee the process.
Educators suggest restructuring the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET‑UG) into a two‑stage, computer‑based format similar to engineering exams. Multiple sessions with different question sets would spread risk and strengthen resilience.
Keshav Aggarwal, president of the Educators Federation, argues that a single high‑stakes test day is problematic and recommends a staggered‐question approach to lower the stakes for each session.
Students themselves are calling for change. Pari, 17, had to begin preparation from scratch after the original NEET test was cancelled and the retest scheduled. Mansi Bansal, 23, who faced multiple cancellations of the UGC‑NET exam, expressed frustration that her career trajectory has become uncertain each time a test is delayed or leaked.
Opinion parties argue that abolishing the NTA would not solve the underlying problem. Former chairman M Jagadesh Kumar cautions that creating new agencies could duplicate costs and dilute security standards.
While the Nilekani task force may bring technical upgrades, many students feel they have little confidence that a new committee will bring visible, measurable changes this time.
Meanwhile, psychologists and educationists are questioning whether the current high‑stakes, single‑exam structure is suitable when millions vie for limited university seats. They propose a system where students can attempt important entrance exams multiple times a year, as practised in some Western countries.
In the end, India’s examinees, parents and teachers face an uncertain future. The challenge remains: can the government curb the next leak and overhauling a system where a single exam can pivot a young person’s entire future?
