AMRAVATI: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has called for comprehensive reforms in India's national examination system, stressing the need for a transparent and credible framework that ensures equal opportunities for students across states and languages.
Naidu made the remarks during a meeting with members of the Examination Reforms High-Powered Task Force, led by its chairman Nandan Nilekani, at the Secretariat on Wednesday. He said the proposed reforms should be formulated through consensus, taking into account the views and concerns of all states.
He emphasised that students should have equal opportunities irrespective of their geographical location or the language they speak. He also called for an examination system that reflects the aspirations and expectations of the present generation.
Naidu said education should go beyond examinations and marks, with greater emphasis on developing students' skills, creativity and critical thinking abilities.
Minister for Human Resources Development and Information Technology Nara Lokesh, who welcomed Nilekani at the Secretariat, outlined the policies being implemented in Andhra Pradesh and highlighted the role of technology in governance and education.
Lokesh suggested that examination reforms should focus on reducing academic stress and making assessments more student-friendly. He also called for stronger coordination at the national level to ensure that students moving between states for higher education or employment do not face difficulties due to differences in languages, education systems or certification procedures.
Addressing the meeting, Nilekani said the task force was examining ways to strengthen the integrity and security of examinations.
He said its focus areas included preventing question paper leaks, improving the use of technology, strengthening cybersecurity systems and enhancing digital forensics capabilities in examination management.
Nilekani added that the task force was visiting different states to understand their education policies, identify challenges and gather inputs on measures being adopted to improve examination systems.
The discussions come amid calls for a more reliable and inclusive national examination framework that addresses differences across India's education systems while ensuring fairness, accessibility and credibility for students.
With inputs from media reports