Nilekani-led task force a damage control exercise by PM: Congress

New Delhi: The Congress on Thursday attacked the government over the exam paper leak issue, saying the Nandan Nilekani-led task force is simply a "damage control exercise" by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as his "image has taken a battering" even within his ecosystem.

Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh recalled that in 2024, after the NEET-UG paper leak that year, the Modi government had set up the K Radhakrishnan-led High-Level Committee of Experts to suggest reforms to the examination system.

In 2026, after the NEET-UG paper leak this year, the Modi government set up the Nandan Nilekani-led High Powered Task Force to focus on examination reform, he said on X.


Also read: Given track record of govt, Nandan Nilekani-led panel's report will also gather dust: Congress

Ramesh cited a new analysis of the Nilekani Committee's terms of reference by a newspaper which he said shows that seven of its nine mandates were fully addressed and the remaining two of its nine mandates were partially addressed by the Radhakrishnan Committee.

"As has been previously highlighted, the Modi Government has not even implemented 27 of the Radhakrishnan Committee's 101 recommendations so far. It didn't even appoint a full-time Director General of NTA for the 2 years between the 2024 and 2026 paper leaks," Ramesh said.

The Modi government showed no political will or sincerity in implementing the Radhakrishnan Committee Report, he alleged.

"The Nilekani Task Force is simply a damage control exercise by a PM whose image has taken a battering even within his ecosystem," the Congress leader said.

Last month, Prime Minister Modi has announced the constitution of a high-powered six-member task force headed by Infosys co-founder Nilekani to recommend reforms to make the exam system leakproof.