GUWAHATI: Former Intelligence Bureau (IB) Director and Barpeta native Tapan Deka has been appointed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's high-powered task force on examination reforms, placing an Assamese expert at the centre of the country's efforts to restore confidence in competitive examinations.
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Deka is a 1988-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Himachal Pradesh cadre. Born on February 25, 1963, in Sarthebari, he completed his Master's degree in Physics from the University of Delhi before joining the IPS.
Deka served as the Director of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) from June 2022 to June 2026. During his tenure, which was extended twice by the Centre, he oversaw several key national security operations.
His expertise in tackling organised criminal networks and strengthening security mechanisms is expected to aid the panel in devising safeguards against paper leaks, impersonation and organised examination fraud.
The multidisciplinary panel, headed by renowned technology expert Nandan Nilekani, has been constituted to recommend structural and technology-driven reforms to India's examination system following the NEET UG 2026 paper leak controversy.
Prime Minister Modi announced the formation of the committee through a video message and an Instagram reel, stating that the task force would focus on making the country's examination system more trustworthy, transparent, and technology-driven. He said the government would act on the panel's recommendations at the earliest to ensure the credibility of future examinations.
Apart from Tapan Deka, the committee comprises former ISRO Chairman S. Somnath, IIT Madras Director V. Kamakoti, former Education Secretary Anita Karwal, logistics expert Amrit Lal Meena, and other domain experts. The panel is expected to overhaul the National Testing Agency's (NTA) examination framework, with a strong emphasis on technology and institutional reforms.
The Prime Minister also announced that the government is introducing a new law in Parliament with stringent legal provisions to tackle examination-related malpractices and safeguard the future of millions of students.
The announcement comes a day after former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned amid nationwide protests over the NEET UG 2026 paper leak and the subsequent re-examination. With Tapan Deka representing Assam on the prestigious panel, the state has secured a significant role in shaping the future of India's examination system.