'Why do we need a question paper': Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani on ways to combat exam leaks in India

Nandan Nilekani proposed replacing traditional, pre-set question papers with a large digital bank of questions. Technology would generate each exam paper shortly before the test. This matters because a fixed paper prepared early can become valuable to people seeking to sell it.

The proposed system would store a very large number of questions and use technology to create the paper for that day at the last minute. Nilekani also recommended moving more exams to computers. This could reduce dependence on printed papers and limit the time available for leaks.

The reform ideas emerged after the NEET-UG paper leak led to the cancellation of the May 3 exam and protests by students. The government created a high-powered task force on July 27 to examine exam security, design, governance and conduct. Nilekani said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was keen to implement the suggestions. He also identified 150,000 possible computer-testing locations.

A question bank is a large stored collection of exam questions. Instead of writing one complete paper months or weeks beforehand, exam technology would draw from this bank and create the paper for the day shortly before the test. The bank would support repeated exam sessions without relying on one exposed document.

The key mechanism is timing. Questions remain inside a digital system until the paper is generated near the exam. Nilekani described building a vast digital bank and using technology to generate papers “not so long before” an exam. The article does not specify whether selection would be random or how many questions each paper would contain.

This approach is intended to reduce the economic incentive created by a finished paper. Nilekani argued that once a question paper exists, it can be sold. His proposal forms part of wider reforms being examined by a government task force after the NEET-UG leak. It could also work alongside computer-based testing.

A question paper prepared in advance is a valuable, complete object. It may pass through several stages before reaching candidates, creating opportunities for unauthorised access. Nilekani said, “The moment you have a question paper, it becomes an economic incentive for that to be sold.” That incentive makes protecting the document especially important.

The proposed alternative changes the vulnerable point. A large question bank would hold many questions, while technology would generate the day’s paper shortly before the exam. A leak would then have less time to spread and would not necessarily reveal a complete paper well in advance. The article does not detail the precise security controls.

This concern became urgent after the NEET-UG paper was leaked. The May 3 exam was cancelled, affecting lakhs of medical aspirants and triggering widespread student protests. The government then formed a high-powered task force to review examination security, design, conduct and governance, including NTA examinations.

The figure given by Nandan Nilekani is 150,000 locations. He said these sites could potentially allow a young person to take an exam on a computer. The number represents possible testing locations, not necessarily fully operational centres already equipped for every public examination.

Nilekani presented the locations as part of the infrastructure needed to move exams away from printed papers. Under computer-based testing, candidates would take the test at a technology-enabled site. The article does not explain how many computers each location has, how they would be secured, or whether all locations meet common technical standards.

He said the network needs to be expanded. The high-powered task force he leads is examining comprehensive reforms in public examinations, including those conducted by the National Testing Agency. Its work follows protests over exam leaks. A larger testing network could support a broader shift to computer-based exams, alongside last-minute paper generation from a digital question bank.

The NEET-UG paper leak had an immediate effect on students: the May 3 examination was cancelled. Lakhs of medical aspirants were affected. They had prepared for the examination, but the leak meant the scheduled test could no longer continue as planned. The cancellation disrupted their plans and created uncertainty around the examination process.

The consequences went beyond the cancelled paper. The disruption triggered widespread protests by students. Their anger reflected the impact on aspirants and concerns about the security and fairness of a major public examination. The article says the protests culminated in the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as education minister.

The government responded by constituting a high-powered task force on July 27. Led by Nandan Nilekani, it was asked to examine reforms in the conduct, security, design and governance of public examinations, including NTA tests. Nilekani later proposed digital question banks, last-minute paper generation and computer-based testing as possible systemic responses.

Computer-based testing offers an alternative to distributing a single printed question paper. Candidates would take the examination at computer-enabled locations, while the test could be delivered digitally. This could fit Nilekani’s wider proposal to generate a paper shortly before the exam, reducing reliance on an early printed document.

The main mechanism is a network of testing sites. Each site would need suitable computers and the systems required to conduct the examination. The article gives a scale of about 150,000 possible locations across India, but says the network must be expanded. It does not list detailed equipment, connectivity or security standards.

Nilekani described computer-based testing as one of the systemic issues his committee would address. The committee was formed after student protests over examination leaks and is examining public-exam conduct, security, design and governance. If the infrastructure becomes available, digital testing could operate alongside a large question bank and last-minute paper generation.

A public examination is secure and fair when candidates receive a protected test under consistent conditions, and when the process is governed well. For millions competing for limited places, the system must prevent leaks, protect exam integrity and treat affected students responsibly. The article identifies security, design, conduct and governance as connected parts of reform.

Nilekani’s example is a digital question bank used to generate the paper shortly before the exam. This reduces the period in which a complete paper could be obtained and sold. Computer-based testing could further reduce dependence on printed papers. India reportedly has 150,000 possible locations, though the network needs expansion.

The NEET-UG leak shows the consequences when confidence breaks down. The May 3 exam was cancelled, lakhs of aspirants were affected and protests followed. The government’s task force is examining comprehensive reforms, including NTA examinations. The article does not provide a complete checklist or guarantee that any proposal has been implemented.