Deeply hurt by Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s remarks on IIT Madras Director V Kamakoti, terming him a ‘gaumutra visheshagya’ (cow urine expert) after he was named a member of the high-powered task-force on exam reforms, over 200 vice chancellors, former vice chancellors and academics have written an open letter, condemning her for undermining the academic credentials of a distinguished scientist.&nbsp;They said her comment undermined academic discourse and could deter scholars from public debate.The vice chancellors highlighted Prof Kamakoti’s academic and research contributions, noting that he heads one of India’s leading scientific and technological institutions.&nbsp;“... We write to express our disappointment over your reported remark describing IIT Madras Director Professor V. Kamakoti as a ‘gaumutra expert’. Whether intended as sarcasm or political rhetoric, such a characterization raises concerns that go far beyond one individual,” the open letter read.&nbsp;<h2>‘Dismissing a scholar risks undermining scientific temper’</h2>&nbsp;&nbsp;“To dismiss a scholar through a label rather than engage with the substance of his views risks undermining the very scientific temper that our Constitution calls upon every citizen to develop. Our scientists, scholars, and educators deserve to know that they can participate in public debate without fear of being reduced to dismissive labels,” the academics said in the three-page open letter.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/woman-poisons-husband-buries-body-in-12ft-deep-pit-in-gujarat-factory-tells-kin-he-went-to-work-in-australia-1785415792507">Woman poisons husband, buries body in 12ft deep pit in Gujarat factory, tells kin he went to work in Australia</a>&nbsp;“Professor Kamakoti is the head of one of India’s foremost scientific and technological institutions. He has M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Computer Science and Engineering from IIT Madras. He has published over 150 research papers and has been involved in over 50 R&amp;D projects.”&nbsp;“He has several honours and accolades to his name, including the DRDO Academic Excellence Award and the Indian Electronics and Semiconductor Association Techno Visionary Award. He has been the guiding force behind India's first industry grade microprocessor. Needless to say, he is one of the top tech brains of the country,” the letter reads.&nbsp;The academics also highlighted his role in guiding the development of India’s first industry-grade microprocessor.&nbsp;The open letter signed by 215 academics said history shows ideas once considered implausible eventually found scientific validation, while many widely accepted beliefs were later discarded.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/kharge-slams-home-minister-amit-shah-for-absence-from-parliament-silence-on-cjp-crackdown-1785410789084">Kharge slams Home Minister Amit Shah for absence from Parliament, silence on CJP crackdown</a>&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/qsAkIXbtnn">https://t.co/qsAkIXbtnn</a> *Gaumutra slur is Islamist terrorist led Anti-Hindu hate speech* 🚨Amit Malviya post below 👇 Priyanka Vadra’s “Gau Mutra expert” jibe at IIT Madras Director V. Kamakoti is not just crude politics. It is the same language of contempt used by the… <a href="https://t.co/Uu0JYCLe7t">https://t.co/Uu0JYCLe7t</a> <a href="https://t.co/rzR4s7XqQz">pic.twitter.com/rzR4s7XqQz</a>&mdash; Vande Matram (@Hindu_League) <a href="https://x.com/Hindu_League/status/2082767260444447177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;<h2>‘Criticise and challenge, but do not diminish scholarship’</h2>&nbsp;&nbsp;The comment went beyond criticism of an individual and raised broader concerns about the treatment of scholars and the dignity of India’s academic institutions, they added.&nbsp;“Equally troubling is the message such remarks send to India’s academic and research community. Our scientists, scholars, and educators deserve to know that they can participate in public debate without fear of being reduced to dismissive labels. Criticise their arguments, challenge their evidence, demand higher standards of proof, but do not diminish scholarship itself.”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/after-pm-fb-post-issue-meta-assures-rigorous-safeguards-for-posts-by-prominent-accounts-1785343588801">After PM FB post issue, Meta assures rigorous safeguards for posts by prominent accounts</a>&nbsp;Calling her remark “deeply disappointing”, the vice chancellors said Parliament should remain a forum where ideas are debated with rigour and disagreements are expressed with dignity.<h2>‘Mockery not a substitute for reasoned engagement’</h2>&nbsp;“In a democracy, disagreement is essential. Mockery is not a substitute for reasoned engagement,” they said.&nbsp;Priyanka Gandhi made the remarks during her speech on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, in Lok Sabha on Tuesday. Although she did not mention any name, her remarks were widely understood to be directed at Kamakoti.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ex-pm-manmohan-singh-gets-supreme-court-clean-chit-in-coal-block-scam-case-after-his-death-1785337284497">Ex-PM Manmohan Singh gets Supreme Court clean chit in coal block scam case after his death</a>&nbsp;“The Radhakrishna Committee was also formed to bring in reforms. Till date, none of its recommendations have been implemented,” she said, adding, “And now this new committee has an ex-IB chief, an owner of an IT company, and also a ‘gaumutra visheshgya’ (cow urine expert). What do they know about education?”

The vice chancellors highlighted Prof. V Kamakoti’s academic and research contributions, noting that he heads one of India’s leading scientific and technological institutions. The academics also highlighted his role in guiding the development of India’s first industry-grade microprocessor.

Deeply hurt by Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s remarks on IIT Madras Director V Kamakoti, terming him a ‘gaumutra visheshagya’ (cow urine expert) after he was named a member of the high-powered task-force on exam reforms, over 200 vice chancellors, former vice chancellors and academics have written an open letter, condemning her for undermining the academic credentials of a distinguished scientist. They said her comment undermined academic discourse and could deter scholars from public debate. The vice chancellors highlighted Prof Kamakoti’s academic and research contributions, noting that he heads one of India’s leading scientific and technological institutions. “... We write to express our disappointment over your reported remark describing IIT Madras Director Professor V. Kamakoti as a ‘gaumutra expert’. Whether intended as sarcasm or political rhetoric, such a characterization raises concerns that go far beyond one individual,” the open letter read. ‘Dismissing a scholar risks undermining scientific temper’ “To dismiss a scholar through a label rather than engage with the substance of his views risks undermining the very scientific temper that our Constitution calls upon every citizen to develop. Our scientists, scholars, and educators deserve to know that they can participate in public debate without fear of being reduced to dismissive labels,” the academics said in the three-page open letter. Also Read: Woman poisons husband, buries body in 12ft deep pit in Gujarat factory, tells kin he went to work in Australia “Professor Kamakoti is the head of one of India’s foremost scientific and technological institutions. He has M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Computer Science and Engineering from IIT Madras. He has published over 150 research papers and has been involved in over 50 R&D projects.” “He has several honours and accolades to his name, including the DRDO Academic Excellence Award and the Indian Electronics and Semiconductor Association Techno Visionary Award. He has been the guiding force behind India's first industry grade microprocessor. Needless to say, he is one of the top tech brains of the country,” the letter reads. The academics also highlighted his role in guiding the development of India’s first industry-grade microprocessor. The open letter signed by 215 academics said history shows ideas once considered implausible eventually found scientific validation, while many widely accepted beliefs were later discarded. Also Read: Kharge slams Home Minister Amit Shah for absence from Parliament, silence on CJP crackdown

The vice chancellors highlighted Prof. V Kamakoti’s academic and research contributions, noting that he heads one of India’s leading scientific and technological institutions. The academics also highlighted his role in guiding the development of India’s first industry-grade microprocessor.

215 academics pen open letter, slam Priyanka Gandhi’s ‘cow urine expert’ remark on IIT Madras director V Kamakoti

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has named Infosys co-founder Nandan Mohanrao Nilekani to lead the high-powered task force that will carve out the blueprint for using technology to make public examinations leak-proof, more transparent, and reliable. Nilekani is already credited with playing a pivotal role in building India’s digital public infrastructure.&nbsp;He will head the high-powered task force that also includes former ISRO Chairman S Somanath, Intelligence Bureau Director Tapan Deka, IIT Madras Director V Kamakoti, former School Education Secretary Anita Karwal, and Higher Education Secretary Amrit Lal Meena.&nbsp;<h2>Who is Nandan Nilekani?</h2>&nbsp;Nandan Mohanrao Nilekani, born on June 2, 1955 in Bengaluru, is among India’s most influential technology leaders. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay before joining Patni Computer Systems in Mumbai in 1978.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pradhan-offered-to-resign-on-the-first-day-of-protests-reveals-senior-bjp-leader-1785061536174">Pradhan offered to resign on the first day of protests, reveals senior BJP leader</a>&nbsp;In 1981, Nilekani and NR Narayana Murthy established Infosys with five other colleagues. As Infosys became one of India’s largest IT services firms, Nilekani served in multiple leadership roles before becoming the company’s Chief Executive Officer in 2002. During his tenure, Infosys’ revenues grew six-fold to nearly $3 billion.&nbsp;Nilekani had to return to Infosys as its non-executive chairman after the departure of former CEO Vishal Sikka in 2017 to steer the company through a critical leadership transition.&nbsp;<h2>The architect of Aadhaar, India’s digital public infra</h2>&nbsp;Nilekani’s most significant contribution came in 2009 when then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh invited him to head the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) with cabinet rank.As UIDAI chairman, Nilekani led the creation and implementation of Aadhaar, the world’s largest biometric identity programme. Aadhaar gradually became the backbone of India’s digital governance ecosystem, enabling direct benefit transfers, financial inclusion, and identity verification for over a billion residents.&nbsp;The programme is cited globally as one of the most ambitious digital identity initiatives undertaken by any country.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pralhad-joshi-takes-charge-as-new-education-minister-after-dharmendra-pradhan-s-resignation-1785050987574">Pralhad Joshi takes charge as new education minister after Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation</a>&nbsp;Nilekani has also played a pivotal role in shaping India's digital public infrastructure. He was instrumental in promoting the framework that eventually led to the development of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), which transformed digital payments across the country and has since become one of India's most successful technology exports.&nbsp;Over the years, he has chaired government technology committees, served on the boards of leading policy institutions, advised international organisations and invested in several Indian technology startups.&nbsp;<h2>Recipient of Padma Bhushan, many other awards</h2>&nbsp;Nilekani’s experience in building digital infrastructure at a national scale is widely seen as one of the key reasons behind his appointment.&nbsp;&nbsp;In January 2023, he was appointed co-chair of the G20 Task Force on Digital Public Infrastructure for Economic Transformation, Financial Inclusion, and Development.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/high-powered-task-force-on-exam-reforms-set-up-under-nandan-nilekani-pm-modi-1785073188370#">DMK founder Karunanidhi’s granddaughter booked for slapping SBI branch manager | Video</a>&nbsp;He is a recipient of many national and international honours, including the Padma Bhushan (2006), the Joseph Schumpeter Prize (2005), the Forbes Asia Businessman of the Year award, the Business Standard Lifetime Achievement Award (2022). He was also named in TIME’s lists of the 100 Most Influential People in the World (2006, 2009) and the 100 Most Influential People in AI (2024).&nbsp;&nbsp;Nilekani is also an author. His books include Imagining India, Rebooting India: Realizing a Billion Aspirations (co-authored with Viral Shah), and The Art of Bitfulness: Keeping Calm in the Digital World (co-authored with Tanuj Bhojwani).

Nandan Nilekani’s most significant contribution came in 2009 when then-PM Manmohan Singh invited him to head the Unique Identification Authority of India. As UIDAI chief, Nilekani led the creation and implementation of Aadhaar, the world’s largest biometric identity programme.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has named Infosys co-founder Nandan Mohanrao Nilekani to lead the high-powered task force that will carve out the blueprint for using technology to make public examinations leak-proof, more transparent, and reliable. Nilekani is already credited with playing a pivotal role in building India’s digital public infrastructure. He will head the high-powered task force that also includes former ISRO Chairman S Somanath, Intelligence Bureau Director Tapan Deka, IIT Madras Director V Kamakoti, former School Education Secretary Anita Karwal, and Higher Education Secretary Amrit Lal Meena. Who is Nandan Nilekani? Nandan Mohanrao Nilekani, born on June 2, 1955 in Bengaluru, is among India’s most influential technology leaders. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay before joining Patni Computer Systems in Mumbai in 1978. Also Read: Pradhan offered to resign on the first day of protests, reveals senior BJP leader In 1981, Nilekani and NR Narayana Murthy established Infosys with five other colleagues. As Infosys became one of India’s largest IT services firms, Nilekani served in multiple leadership roles before becoming the company’s Chief Executive Officer in 2002. During his tenure, Infosys’ revenues grew six-fold to nearly $3 billion. Nilekani had to return to Infosys as its non-executive chairman after the departure of former CEO Vishal Sikka in 2017 to steer the company through a critical leadership transition. The architect of Aadhaar, India’s digital public infra Nilekani’s most significant contribution came in 2009 when then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh invited him to head the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) with cabinet rank. As UIDAI chairman, Nilekani led the creation and implementation of Aadhaar, the world’s largest biometric identity programme. Aadhaar gradually became the backbone of India’s digital governance ecosystem, enabling direct benefit transfers, financial inclusion, and identity verification for over a billion residents. The programme is cited globally as one of the most ambitious digital identity initiatives undertaken by any country. Also Read: Pralhad Joshi takes charge as new education minister after Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation Nilekani has also played a pivotal role in shaping India's digital public infrastructure. He was instrumental in promoting the framework that eventually led to the development of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), which transformed digital payments across the country and has since become one of India's most successful technology exports. Over the years, he has chaired government technology committees, served on the boards of leading policy institutions, advised international organisations and invested in several Indian technology startups. Recipient of Padma Bhushan, many other awards Nilekani’s experience in building digital infrastructure at a national scale is widely seen as one of the key reasons behind his appointment. In January 2023, he was appointed co-chair of the G20 Task Force on Digital Public Infrastructure for Economic Transformation, Financial Inclusion, and Development. Also Read: DMK founder Karunanidhi’s granddaughter booked for slapping SBI branch manager | Video He is a recipient of many national and international honours, including the Padma Bhushan (2006), the Joseph Schumpeter Prize (2005), the Forbes Asia Businessman of the Year award, the Business Standard Lifetime Achievement Award (2022). He was also named in TIME’s lists of the 100 Most Influential People in the World (2006, 2009) and the 100 Most Influential People in AI (2024). Nilekani is also an author. His books include Imagining India, Rebooting India: Realizing a Billion Aspirations (co-authored with Viral Shah), and The Art of Bitfulness: Keeping Calm in the Digital World (co-authored with Tanuj Bhojwani).

Nandan Nilekani’s most significant contribution came in 2009 when then-PM Manmohan Singh invited him to head the Unique Identification Authority of India. As UIDAI chief, Nilekani led the creation and implementation of Aadhaar, the world’s largest biometric identity programme.

Nandan Nilekani, Infosys co-founder and Aadhaar architect, to lead PM’s high-powered task force

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday announced that the government has set up a high-powered task force on exam reforms under technology expert Nandan Nilekani. The task force constituted for NTA examination reforms also comprises former ISRO Chairman S Somnath, former IB Director Tapan Deka, IIT Chennai Director V Kamakoti, former Education Secretary Anita Karwal and Logistics Expert Amrit Lal Meena. The task force would recommend measures to make India’s examination system more transparent, credible, and technology-driven.&nbsp;Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared a video message on social media channels to announce the developmentwhile asserting that all those allegedly involved in paper leaks are in jail for messing with the future of students.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pradhan-offered-to-resign-on-the-first-day-of-protests-reveals-senior-bjp-leader-1785061536174">Pradhan offered to resign on the first day of protests, reveals senior BJP leader</a>&nbsp;He said in the video message, “The Government of India is continuously taking various measures for the future of students. Those who tampered with the students’ future are languishing in jail. We have already established fast-track courts. We are also moving towards enacting new legislation in Parliament that incorporates stringent legal provisions.”&nbsp;The Prime Minister said that the government has already taken several steps to protect the interests of students and emphasised that the further reforms would focus on strengthening the examination system for the future.&nbsp;”However, we must look to the future. Our examination system needs to be reliable and transparent, and it must make maximum use of technology. Keeping all these factors in mind, we have decided to constitute a high-powered task force under the leadership of the world-renowned technology expert Nandan Nilekani. This task force will focus on examination reforms, and based on its report, steps will be taken to ensure the credibility of upcoming examinations at the earliest,” the PM added.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pralhad-joshi-takes-charge-as-new-education-minister-after-dharmendra-pradhan-s-resignation-1785050987574">Pralhad Joshi takes charge as new education minister after Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation</a>&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">HIGH POWERED TASK FORCE on examination reforms under the leadership of Shri Nandan Nilekani constituted.<a href="https://x.com/NandanNilekani?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NandanNilekani</a> <a href="https://t.co/mMpmPdIEL5">pic.twitter.com/mMpmPdIEL5</a>&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://x.com/narendramodi/status/2081371118188028277?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;PM Modi made the announcement a day after the government accepted all the demands laid by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which led the protests over the NEET paper leak and demanded the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and withdrawal of FIRs against protesters.&nbsp;PM Modi’s remarks came a day after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned from his post and Union Minister Pralhad Joshi was entrusted with the additional charge of the Education Ministry.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="DMK founder Karunanidhi’s granddaughter booked for slapping SBI branch manager | Video">DMK founder Karunanidhi’s granddaughter booked for slapping SBI branch manager | Video</a>&nbsp;The government will table the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha on Monday. The bill will strengthen the legal framework against examination-related fraud. The amendments will strengthen the 2024 law by introducing harsher punishments, ensuring time-bound investigations and trials, and creating special fast-track courts to ensure speedy justice.&nbsp;The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, will aim to improve accountability, deter organised examination-related fraud, and restore confidence in the country's public examination system.

PM Narendra Modi said the examination system in the country needs to be reliable and transparent and must make maximum use of technology. He announced the setting up of a high-powered task force under the leadership of the world-renowned technology expert Nandan Nilekani.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday announced that the government has set up a high-powered task force on exam reforms under technology expert Nandan Nilekani. The task force constituted for NTA examination reforms also comprises former ISRO Chairman S Somnath, former IB Director Tapan Deka, IIT Chennai Director V Kamakoti, former Education Secretary Anita Karwal and Logistics Expert Amrit Lal Meena. The task force would recommend measures to make India’s examination system more transparent, credible, and technology-driven. Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared a video message on social media channels to announce the development while asserting that all those allegedly involved in paper leaks are in jail for messing with the future of students. Also Read: Pradhan offered to resign on the first day of protests, reveals senior BJP leader He said in the video message, “The Government of India is continuously taking various measures for the future of students. Those who tampered with the students’ future are languishing in jail. We have already established fast-track courts. We are also moving towards enacting new legislation in Parliament that incorporates stringent legal provisions.” The Prime Minister said that the government has already taken several steps to protect the interests of students and emphasised that the further reforms would focus on strengthening the examination system for the future. ”However, we must look to the future. Our examination system needs to be reliable and transparent, and it must make maximum use of technology. Keeping all these factors in mind, we have decided to constitute a high-powered task force under the leadership of the world-renowned technology expert Nandan Nilekani. This task force will focus on examination reforms, and based on its report, steps will be taken to ensure the credibility of upcoming examinations at the earliest,” the PM added. Also Read: Pralhad Joshi takes charge as new education minister after Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation

PM Narendra Modi said the examination system in the country needs to be reliable and transparent and must make maximum use of technology. He announced the setting up of a high-powered task force under the leadership of the world-renowned technology expert Nandan Nilekani.

High-powered task force on exam reforms set up under Nandan Nilekani: PM Modi

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215 academics pen open letter, slam Priyanka Gandhi’s ‘cow urine expert’ remark on IIT Madras director V Kamakoti

Infosys co-founder and Aadhaar architect Nandan Nilekani to lead PM’s task force

High-powered task force on exam reforms set up under Nandan Nilekani: PM Modi