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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.

Restoring Values in Science: Honouring Dr. Kalam’s Vision for Tomorrow

A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s values matter more than ever in today’s age of innovation.


On July 27, we remember Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, not only as India’s ‘Missile Man’ or a former President, but as a scientist who combined knowledge with kindness, ambition with humility, and vision with values. He believed that science should not only fuel growth and power, but also serve humanity, especially the poorest and most vulnerable. “Science is a life-giving tool if used with values,” he said. As we mark his death anniversary, the best tribute is to ask: Are we building the kind of science he dreamed of?

 

Today, science and technology drive national pride and economic growth. From space missions to clean energy and artificial intelligence, we see rapid innovation. However, as success grows, so does the pressure to publish more, patent more, raise funds, and launch new ventures. In this rush, we may lose sight of what matters most. Dr. Kalam always asked: What is the true purpose of science? Is it about creating wealth or improving lives? About solving problems or building a better world? His answer was clear: science must do both, but only when guided by what is right. Righteousness, for Kalam, was not just a personal value; it was the foundation for a peaceful nation and a just world. He once said: “Where there is righteousness in the heart, there is beauty in the character. When there is beauty in the character, there is harmony in the home. When there is harmony in the home, there is order in the nation. When there is order in the nation, there is peace in the world.” This was his formula for national transformation, starting from within.

 

Around the world today, people are asking what we truly value. Mark Carney, now the Prime Minister of Canada and a renowned economist, writes in his book Value(s) that what we measure and assign value to is not always what we care about most, such as trust, fairness, or community. His analysis is timely. What Carney explains through economics and policy, Kalam embodied through science and service. Both deliver powerful messages: progress must be guided by values.

 

Today, science often operates like a marketplace. Researchers are judged by the number of publications they produce. Institutions are ranked based on citation counts. Funding tends to favour ideas that are quick, profitable or currently popular worldwide. While these systems improve efficiency, they also exclude essential work, especially research that requires time, addresses rural needs, or offers no immediate results.

 

As a result, important areas are overlooked. Efforts in village sanitation, small-farmer tools, or affordable healthcare often receive minimal support, even though they significantly impact lives. For example, locally developed portable water purifiers and soil microbial technologies for dryland farming have shown potential but lack steady funding. Judging science solely by market value ignores compassion, fairness, and the public good.

 

Less than 10 percent of India’s science funding reaches grassroots projects, even though 60 percent of the population lives in those areas. This shows what we prioritize and who we choose to serve. Kalam believed that true scientific excellence must be inclusive.

He was not against commercialization. He supported transforming research from labs into practical applications, from missiles to medical implants and solar energy for rural communities. However, he emphasized that the ultimate goal must be national growth and dignity. “Science is a tool of service,” he said, “not supremacy.” True progress requires humility, courage, and purpose.

 

He also shared a simple equation: Knowledge = Creativity + Righteousness + Courage

 

This idea reminds us that knowledge needs imagination, ethical principles, and the courage to do what is right. Young scientists can learn much from Kalam’s life. He rose from a humble background, overcame setbacks and turned each achievement into public service. He inspired students not only to dream but also to act with purpose. He believed that success should not be measured solely by papers or patents. Teamwork, mentorship, integrity and long-term societal benefits are equally important.

 

He urged institutions to focus on long-term value, originality, and national needs over global rankings and trends. To industry, his message was clear: science must serve stakeholders, not just shareholders. Innovation rooted in service like clean energy or eco-packaging was, for Kalam, the path to lasting leadership.

 

India aims for global scientific leadership. But that leadership must come from within, rooted in our values, environment and people. We need a unique scientific language, one that combines Gandhi’s moral clarity, Raman’s curiosity, Bhabha’s institutional vision, and Kalam’s deep compassion.

 

This will require bold reforms. Science funding must expand beyond elite institutions. Education must include ethics and courage along with technical knowledge.

 

Kalam’s vision of PURA (Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas) was ahead of its time. Though it began slowly, its core ideas remain vital. In today’s digital age, rural broadband, mobile diagnostics, climate-smart farming and water technologies must be integral to India’s scientific goals. From climate change to public health to artificial intelligence, our future depends not just on innovation but on trust, ethics, and cooperation. As Kalam said, science must be “the conscience of civilization.”

 

In remembering him, let us pledge not only to pursue science but to do it ethically. Let laboratories become places of service. Let each discovery embody a greater responsibility. Let every innovation uphold our shared humanity.

 

And let us not forget Kalam’s timeless message, which deserves a place in every institution: “Righteousness in the heart leads to beauty in the character, harmony in the home, order in the nation, and peace in the world.”

That is the science the world needs. That is the science India must lead.

 

(The author is the former Director, Agharkar Research Institute, Pune and Visiting Professor, IIT Bombay. Views personal)

 

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