India's Modi vows education exam reform, names Infosys co-founder to lead task force

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pledged to reform the nation's examination system by establishing a dedicated task force. This decision comes in the wake of the Education Minister's resignation, prompted by widespread protests against alleged irregularities in crucial national entrance exams.

The newly formed task force will be spearheaded by Nandan Nilekani, a prominent figure and co-founder of the Indian IT conglomerate Infosys. Modi emphasized the need for a robust examination framework, stating, "Our examination system must be reliable. Our examination system must be transparent. Our examination system must utilize as much technology as possible."

Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on Saturday after days of demonstrations in New Delhi and other cities. The protests, led by the "Cockroach Janta Party" (CJP), highlighted systemic flaws in India's education sector. The "Cockroach movement," as it became known, gained momentum online before translating into a significant street protest movement.

The immediate trigger for the protests was a scandal involving leaked exam papers for the medical entrance test, forcing over two million applicants to retake the examination. Further public anger was fueled by errors in the online evaluation of nearly two million students' assessments. The CJP, formed in response to a Supreme Court judge's remarks labeling unemployed youth as "cockroaches," has mobilized significant public support.

These protests represent one of the most significant domestic political challenges for Prime Minister Modi since he began his third term in 2024. The government's response, including the formation of the task force and the acceptance of the minister's resignation, signals an attempt to address public grievances and restore confidence in the educational system.

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Our examination system must be reliable. Our examination system must be transparent. Our examination system must utilize as much technology as possible.