N K Singh, former chairman of the fifteenth Finance Commission, stated on Thursday that the newly formed commission led by Nandan Nilekani for examination reforms must comprehensively review India's entire educational ecosystem, viewing examinations as just one element.
Speaking at the 10th CII Summit on School Education, Singh emphasized that Nilekani should go beyond examination procedures and entrance tests to account for broader changes in the education sector, including the influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Singh advised Nandan Nilekani to conduct a thorough analysis where the examination is considered only one critically important component. He noted the necessity of reviewing the entire changed educational environment, including the impact of using AI in education.
Singh, who is also the president of the Institute of Economic Growth, added that the National Education Policy (NEP) should not be perceived as immutable. He urged the reform task force to consider revising the NEP in light of changing issues in the education sector.
Furthermore, Singh expressed concerns about the impact of AI on children's cognitive abilities, questioning whether excessive reliance on this technology might lead to 'cognitive defeat.' He stressed the importance of preserving the ability of children and youth to think creatively and perform basic tasks independently. Instead, he proposed using AI as a 'force multiplier' to reduce mechanical tasks while strengthening the capacity of young minds to think innovatively. The goal, he said, is to ensure that wider application of AI does not lead to a decline in cognitive abilities.
At the same event, V K Shunglu, chairman of the Delhi Schools Association and former Controller and Auditor of India, noted that teaching methods in schools were lagging behind the shift towards more analytical examination questions, consistent with the NEP. He added that questions in the Central Board of Secondary Education exams were becoming increasingly analytical in line with the NEP, while schools had not yet fully adapted their teaching methodologies to this shift.
Shunglu suggested that AI could be useful in developing question banks, especially for subjects like physics and mathematics, where questions require regular updates. He also noted that AI could help change part of the questions annually, allowing students to develop cognitive and analytical skills. However, he pointed to language proficiency as a serious issue, stating that students might struggle with analytical questions if they have weak English knowledge. He concluded that 'we have neglected the language space.'
Earlier, the Centre constituted a six-member high-powered task force led by Nilekani in July to conduct a comprehensive review of the public examination system and formulate recommendations for reforms, including the functioning of the National Testing Agency. The commission was formed following a series of debates and concerns regarding the conduct and integrity of competitive examinations, including the leak of the NEET (UG) exam this year. Last week, the commission launched a special website to collect public feedback and suggestions on examination reforms as part of consultations.