Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani has proposed generating exam papers at the last minute from a large question bank, using AI to reduce the risk of leaks and the incentive to sell papers. The idea, raised at the Bloomberg Economic Forum in New Delhi, puts a practical AI proposal into India’s debate over examination reform.
Watch Desk analysis
What happened
Nilekani argued that a large bank of questions could allow a fresh paper to be generated on the day of each test, rather than relying on one paper that could be leaked or sold. He also called for a shift towards nationwide computer-based testing, saying it would require a network of test locations. He cited 150,000 existing locations and said that network would need to expand.
The Economic Times, carrying a PTI report, says Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked Nilekani to chair a panel on exam reforms after repeated paper leaks damaged public confidence. The report describes a proposal, not an adopted policy or a system already in operation.
Why it matters
This is a specific use for AI in a high-stakes public service: generating exam questions close to test time could make advance leaks harder and reduce the value of stealing a single paper. But the proposal depends on more than the model. A large, carefully managed question bank and reliable computer-based testing sites would have to work together; Nilekani’s remarks do not establish how the system would be built or tested.
Nor does generating papers on the day settle questions about question quality, fairness between candidates or access to testing locations. Those details will matter to students as much as the technology does. Exam reform is already a live issue, and “use AI” is the easy part of the sentence.
Our read
The proposal is worth taking seriously because it connects AI to a clear problem and a concrete mechanism, rather than treating the technology as a decorative reform. But a fresh paper is only an improvement if it is secure, comparable in difficulty and accessible to candidates across the country. The useful next step is a public plan explaining how those conditions would be met.
What to watch
- Whether the exam-reform panel recommends day-of-test question generation.
- How the proposed question bank would be built, checked and protected.
- Whether computer-based testing expands, and how candidates without nearby sites would be served.
- What safeguards would ensure fairness and comparable difficulty across different papers.
Discussion spark: Would day-of-test AI-generated exam papers make cheating harder without making results less fair, or should India prioritise strengthening existing exam security first?
Sources and evidence
- Source update (13 October 2026, 07:47 UTC)
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