Modi Forms Task Force After Education Minister Resigns Over Exam Leaks

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the formation of a high-powered task force on July 26, 2026, to overhaul India's national examination system and eliminate paper leaks. Led by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani, the multidisciplinary panel includes experts from ISRO, the Intelligence Bureau, and IIT Madras to create a technology-driven, transparent system for the National Testing Agency.

The initiative follows a 36-day sit-in at Jantar Mantar and nationwide protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak and CBSE marking irregularities. The unrest resulted in the July 25 resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who stated the move was necessary to maintain national stability. Pralhad Joshi has since assumed additional charge of the ministry.

To resolve the crisis, the government agreed to provide compensation to families of students who committed suicide and vowed to withdraw criminal cases against protesters in BJP-ruled states, though reports of arrests continued in West Bengal and Assam. Home Minister Amit Shah vowed exemplary punishment for culprits, and the government plans to introduce the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, which proposes fast-track courts and prison sentences up to 10 years.

Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi described the resignation as a step toward accountability for police violence against students. The Indian National Congress dismissed the task force as a diversion, with MP Jairam Ramesh claiming it was an attempt to repair the Prime Minister's tarnished image while ignoring previous 2024 reform recommendations.