Dear Shri Nilekaniji : Agenda for First Meeting of Task Force

 CTC Framework: A Ready Agenda Item for the Task Force's First Meeting

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Respected Shri Nilekani,

Congratulations on being entrusted with the leadership of the High-Powered Task Force on NTA Examination Reforms. Given your record with Aadhaar and large-scale digital governance, this could not be in better hands.

On 24 July 2026 — two days before the Task Force was announced — I had written to the Prime Minister proposing a comprehensive structural and technological framework to permanently eliminate examination paper leaks and to reform the NTA's institutional design. I am attaching that Framework here.

I notice that the Task Force's Terms of Reference, as reported, map very closely onto specific proposals already contained in this Framework:

- Safe, transparent exam procedures → a two-layer, time-stamped encrypted question-paper delivery architecture (already demonstrated at www.ntaNEET.net and www.My-Teacher.in), backed by a statutory Testing Tribunal for grievance redressal.

- Maximum use of technology, digital infrastructure, cybersecurity → AI-generated question papers, on-site decryption with no live-internet dependency, and a permanent, CTC/STC-owned network of Testing Centres (Tier-1 Mega Centres + Tier-2 District Centres) replacing today's rented, ad hoc venues.

- Structural changes, governance, comprehensive overhaul, institutional reforms → converting the NTA into a Central Testing Commission (CTC) — a constitutional statutory body modelled on the Election Commission of India, governed federally on the GST Council pattern, with State Testing Commissioners reporting administratively to their State Education Minister but functionally to the CTC.

I enclose a tabulation mapping each of the Task Force's twelve Terms of Reference, as reported in the press, directly against the corresponding proposals in the Framework.

My request is a simple one: that you consider circulating this Framework among the Task Force's members — Shri S. Somanath, Shri Tapan Deka, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Smt. Anita Karwal, and Shri Amrit Lal Meena — for their study, so that it can be tabled as an agenda item for discussion at the Task Force's very first meeting. Having a concrete, already-drafted proposal on the table from day one may help the Task Force move faster from diagnosis to design.

I would be glad to walk the Task Force through the Framework, or through the underlying technology demonstrated at ntaNEET.net, at your convenience.

With warm regards and best wishes for the Task Force's work,

Hemen Parekh

Mumbai

27 July 2026

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Comparative Tabulation: Task Force Terms of Reference vs CTC Framework

Srl	Term (as reported)	CTC Framework: Hemen's Proposal
1	Safe exam procedures	Two-layer, time-stamped encrypted question-paper delivery (OSOD architecture, proven at ntaNEET.net) — papers decrypt only at the pre-programmed start time, on a local server, with no live-internet dependency. Permanent CTC/STC-owned centres with biometric login, AI-CCTV proctoring, and signal jammers — replacing today's rented, ad hoc venues.
2	Transparent exam procedures	A statutory Testing Tribunal (Election-Petition model) for malpractice and re-test disputes, taking individual grievances out of writ litigation. Public, auditable national testing calendar and results database maintained by the CTC.
3	Maximum use of technology	AI-generated question papers (up to ~300 quintillion unique combinations — no two candidates get the same paper); encrypted transmission direct to secure printers/desktops inside the locked hall. Already demonstrated at My-Teacher.in and ntaNEET.net.
4	Reliability of upcoming exams	Permanent, CTC/STC-owned Tier-1/Tier-2/Tier-3 infrastructure (100 Mega Centres + 766 District Centres + hybrid surge capacity) removes the single points of failure inherent in exam-by-exam rented venues and temporary staff.
5	Revamp NTA's processes, tech perspective	The hybrid CBT + encrypted-delivery model replaces centralised printing and physical transport end-to-end — the core technological redesign at the heart of the Framework.
6	Structural changes for integrity & efficiency	Conversion of NTA from a Ministry-controlled society into the CTC — a constitutional statutory body modelled on the Election Commission, governed federally on the GST Council pattern, with dual-reporting State Testing Commissioners.
7	Digital Infrastructure	Tier-1: 100 Mega Testing Centres (5,000 desktops each). Tier-2: 766 District Testing Centres, one per district (5,00,000 + 3,83,000 owned seats). Tier-3: hybrid surge capacity for peak exams like NEET/JEE — all CTC/STC-owned, not rented.
8	Cybersecurity	Two-layer, time-stamped encryption with on-site decryption only; no internet dependency at exam time even if intercepted, the file is unusable; periodic centre-level integrity audits by the CTC.
9	Operational planning	A permanent Testing Corps (technical, security, invigilation staff) rather than exam-by-exam contracting; a Council-approved national testing calendar sequencing all Central, State, Municipal, and Panchayat-level exams to avoid clashes.
10	Governance	Full three-tier architecture: CTC (constitutional, President-reporting, collegium-appointed Commissioner, fixed tenure); Governing Council (Centre + all States, policy-only, GST-style weighted voting); STCs (dual-reporting to State Minister administratively, CTC functionally).
11	Comprehensive overhaul	The entire 11-section CTC Framework — constitutional status, governance, functions, exam-by-exam scope, infrastructure sizing, advantages, and a direct NTA-vs-CTC comparison table.
12	Institutional reforms for NTA	NTA replaced by a constitutional statutory body with fixed-tenure, judicially-protected leadership, insulated from Executive direction — not a reformed department, but a re-founded institution. =