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By:

Correspondent

23 August 2024 at 4:29:04 pm

Trust Reset

As the recent protests over the NEET paper leak showed, India’s examination system has reached a point where incremental repairs are no longer enough. The appointment of a high-powered task force on examination reforms, headed by technology pioneer Nandan Nilekani, is therefore not merely an administrative response to the NEET-UG paper leak crisis but a concrete attempt to rebuild confidence in one of the country’s most important public institutions. Examinations are gateways to opportunity,...

Trust Reset

As the recent protests over the NEET paper leak showed, India’s examination system has reached a point where incremental repairs are no longer enough. The appointment of a high-powered task force on examination reforms, headed by technology pioneer Nandan Nilekani, is therefore not merely an administrative response to the NEET-UG paper leak crisis but a concrete attempt to rebuild confidence in one of the country’s most important public institutions. Examinations are gateways to opportunity, social mobility and professional ambition. For millions of students across the country, a competitive examination represents years of sacrifice by families and the possibility of a better future. When question papers leak repeatedly, evaluation systems fail or allegations of manipulation emerge, the resulting damage strikes at the idea of fairness itself. The crisis surrounding NEET-UG exposed uncomfortable vulnerabilities in the country’s examination infrastructure. The resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and the subsequent appointment of Pralhad Joshi with additional charge of the ministry underlined the political seriousness of the issue. But political accountability alone cannot fix a structural problem. That is why the composition of the new task force is a move on the right direction. It brings together expertise from technology, space research, intelligence, education administration and logistics. Nilekani’s appointment is particularly significant. The former Infosys chief executive and architect of Aadhaar has experience in building large-scale digital public infrastructure involving hundreds of millions of citizens. The Aadhaar project itself was born out of a similar challenge: how to create a reliable identity system in a country where leakages and duplication weakened welfare delivery. India’s examination system now requires the same kind of thinking. The committee’s mandate to examine the entire examination lifecycle - from question paper creation and distribution to candidate verification, evaluation and results - is the right approach. The problem lies in multiple weak points where human intervention, poor security protocols and outdated processes can create opportunities for malpractice. Technology will inevitably be central to the solution. Artificial intelligence can help detect unusual patterns, blockchain-based verification can strengthen record security and better data systems can improve transparency. But a secure examination system requires independent oversight, professional management, clear accountability and swift punishment for wrongdoing. India’s National Testing Agency was created to bring efficiency and standardisation to public examinations. Its credibility must now be restored through reforms that are visible and trusted by students. The Nilekani task force has been given the difficult job of repairing that trust. The government has chosen a committee led by people with experience of managing complex national systems. It is a sensible first step. The real test will now be whether its recommendations translate into action.

A Historic Gathering of Janjati Identity

May 24, 2026, could become a historic day in modern India. Nearly 1.5 lakh members of the Janjati, or indigenous tribal communities, from across the country will gather at the iconic Red Fort in New Delhi. A gathering of this scale in the national capital is unprecedented and carries a profound message. This is not a protest or agitation but a cultural assertion — an affirmation of identity, heritage, and continuity.


Participants are arriving from some of India’s most remote forest and hill regions, driven by concern for preserving their faith, traditions, and cultural heritage. Their presence reflects both community introspection and an appeal to safeguard an ancient civilisational legacy. The concerns they raise are not limited to Janjati society; they are national concerns demanding awareness and sensitivity.


Cultural Custodians

Janjati communities have long preserved India’s ancient traditions. The forests and natural landscapes they inhabit are often regarded as the cradle of early Indian civilisation. Relatively untouched by outside influences, these regions have allowed many traditions to survive in near-original form.


Over centuries, these communities defended their way of life with resilience and dignity. Their legacy is one of sacrifice, with many Janjati leaders and warriors resisting external threats while protecting their cultural identity. Among them, Birsa Munda remains a towering figure.


Born on November 15, 1875, in present-day Jharkhand, Birsa Munda inspired a movement centred on protecting faith, culture, and community. The year 2026 marks his 150th birth anniversary, making the Delhi gathering especially significant.


The Janjati Sanskritik Samagam represents over 12 crore Janjati citizens and more than 700 communities across India. Their gathering reflects unity and a shared resolve to preserve traditions passed down through generations.


Despite India’s independence, many Janjati communities continue to face developmental challenges. Yet today’s deeper concern is existential, with faith, cultural identity, and traditional practices increasingly under threat.


Challenges to Identity

Historically, Janjati regions have been vulnerable to external influences. Over the centuries, large-scale religious conversion efforts disrupted many communities, altering traditions and dividing societies once united.


In many areas, villages now stand split by differing belief systems and practices. These changes have weakened social cohesion and threatened cultural continuity. The issue goes beyond faith; it concerns identity, belonging, and community harmony.


The Indian Constitution contains provisions to protect and uplift Janjati communities. However, concerns remain over implementation.


A key concern is that benefits meant to preserve Janjati identity are not always reaching those who continue to follow traditional ways of life, fuelling concerns over imbalance in representation and opportunity.


Another issue is the alleged misuse of identity-based benefits. Instances of false credentials have raised concerns among genuine beneficiaries, extending beyond employment to the broader question of identity integrity.


Demands from various groups for inclusion under Janjati categories have also raised concerns about the possible dilution of constitutional safeguards, highlighting the need for careful scrutiny and robust verification.


Social Pressure

In recent years, Janjati regions have faced growing social pressures. Concerns have been raised about exploitation, particularly of vulnerable groups such as women. Disputes over land ownership and resource control have also intensified in some areas, disrupting traditional ways of life.


These issues highlight the need to safeguard not only culture but also the socio-economic rights of these communities. Protecting land, dignity, and social structures is essential for sustainable development and preservation of identity.


Janjati communities have also borne the brunt of prolonged conflict in regions affected by left-wing extremism. For decades, violence hindered development and disrupted everyday life, leaving many communities caught between opposing forces.


While progress has been made in restoring peace, rebuilding trust, infrastructure, and social well-being remain ongoing national challenges.


Shared Responsibility

Janjati society is an integral part of India’s cultural and civilisational fabric. Concerns have, however, been raised about narratives that seek to separate these communities from the broader national identity. Efforts that encourage division rather than unity risk weakening the social fabric.


India’s strength lies in its diversity, and Janjati traditions are an integral part of that heritage. Recognising this interconnectedness is essential for fostering harmony and mutual respect.


The Janjati Sanskritik Samagam represents a peaceful expression of introspection, assertion, and unity — a gathering to voice concerns, celebrate heritage, and reinforce identity.


The Samagam will begin with participants arriving in Delhi on May 23, 2026, followed on May 24 by traditional processions from five locations across the city and a major public gathering at the Red Fort featuring community leaders, social workers, and distinguished personalities.


Janjati communities have long lived with self-reliance, dignity, and harmony with nature. As they raise concerns about identity and preservation, it becomes the responsibility of the nation to listen and respond.


Their identity is inseparable from India’s own. Respecting and understanding Janjati communities is not merely an act of goodwill but a national responsibility.


(The writer is an official of Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram. Views personal.)

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