Why Do We Need A Question Paper at all? Nilekani suggests AI-generated question papers

New Delhi: Technology leader Nandan Nilekani has called for replacing traditional question papers with AI-generated questions and nationwide computer-based testing to curb paper leaks that have repeatedly disrupted high-stakes examinations.

The Infosys co-founder who heads the high-powered task force on exam reforms, on Tuesday said the issue of question paper leaks can be addressed with a "systematic" approach and advocated the use of technology to deal with the problem.

Nilekani said the issue of exam paper leaks is a "solvable" issue and needs the use of technology. "If you look at it systematically, go to the root causes of why it’s happening and use technology to solve it... they are solvable issues," he said. “Why do we need to have a (one) question paper,” Nilekani asked at Bloomberg’s New Economy Forum in Delhi.

“The moment you have a question paper, it becomes an economic incentive for that to be sold," he said. Nilekani further noted that "these are all systemic issues which we will address in our committee. And I think the Prime Minister is very keen to implement our suggestions."

He heads the task force that was set up in July after the leak of the NEET-UG question paper in May led to the cancellation of the medical entrance exam and a re-test, triggering weeks of student protests across the country, which ended with the resignation of the then Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

One way to stop exam paper leaks is to do away with a fixed question paper and generate it from a large question bank only at the last minute, the Infosys co-founder said.

"The way to do that is to really have a massive bank of questions. And only generate the question paper for that day at the last minute.

And therefore, then the question of a question paper goes away, and there is no economic incentive for that," Nilekani said.

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