Nandan Nilekani suggests question bank approach to curb exam leaks

Nandan Nilekani, co-founder of IT major Infosys, has advocated for a fundamental redesign of India's examination system to combat widespread question paper leaks. Speaking on the issue, Nilekali suggested moving away from the conventional practice of preparing and securing question papers in advance, which remains vulnerable to theft and circulation.

Instead, Nilekani recommended establishing an extensive bank of vetted examination questions across all subjects and difficulty levels. Using this repository, exam papers could be randomly generated and compiled at the last minute—minutes before the examination actually begins—making it virtually impossible for papers to be leaked beforehand.

The proposal addresses a systemic challenge that has long plagued India's education system. Question paper leaks have compromised the integrity of board exams and competitive entrance tests, disadvantaging students who study without access to leaked materials and enabling unfair advantages for those who obtain them through unauthorised channels.

Nilekani's suggestion represents a technological approach to a persistent administrative problem. Implementation would require coordinated effort across educational boards, examination authorities, and technology infrastructure to build and maintain robust question banks capable of supporting the nation's massive examination ecosystem.

The proposal has gained attention amid ongoing debates about examination security and education reform, though widespread adoption would require significant changes to current examination protocols and infrastructure across India's educational institutions.