The Narendra Modi government’s decision to appoint Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani to head a task force on education reforms acknowledges the growing anger among young Indians over examination paper leaks and systemic failures. But while technology can improve administrative efficiency and transparency, it cannot by itself resolve a deeper crisis of institutional credibility, citizenship and exclusionary governance that increasingly shapes the relationship between the state and its citizens.A close reading of the present governance framework reveals how the rights of Indian citizens – whether the right to vote or the opportunity to seek government employment – have become increasingly entangled in procedural complexities.Seeking to convey that his government is serious about addressing young people’s concerns over paper leaks and shortcomings in the education system, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his third consecutive outreach to the youth, announced on Instagram on Sunday the formation of a task force under Nilekani’s chairmanship.Also read: Who Is on the ‘High Powered Task Force on Examinations’?“Friends, for the future of students, the Government of India is continuously taking several steps. Those who played with the future of students are in jail. We have established fast-track courts. Parliament is also moving towards enacting a new law with stringent provisions. But we also have to think of the future – that our education system becomes reliable, transparent and makes maximum use of technology,” the prime minister said in his video message, later shared on X.There is little doubt about Nilekani’s credentials. Globally respected for his technological vision and administrative capability, he was appointed as the chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) with Cabinet rank by the Manmohan Singh government in July 2009. Under his leadership, UIDAI created what has become one of India’s most significant digital public infrastructure initiatives.The Aadhaar database was designed to collect basic demographic information – name, date of birth, gender and address – along with biometric data, while deliberately excluding religion, caste, income and voting history in order to preserve political neutrality and privacy.Paradoxically, while Aadhaar is accepted by the Indian state for paying taxes, opening bank accounts, receiving welfare benefits and fulfilling numerous official requirements, it is not by itself accepted by the Election Commission (EC) as conclusive proof of eligibility for inclusion in the electoral rolls.Also read: CBI Skips First Hearing of PM Modi’s Paper Leak Fast-Track CourtIndia does not issue a single, unified citizenship document. Consequently, the EC requires applicants to satisfy the legal requirements prescribed under electoral laws before their names are entered on the electoral roll.Critics argue that the refusal to treat Aadhaar and several other state-issued documents as sufficient proof has shifted the burden onto citizens to establish eligibility through multiple documents, making the process especially difficult for the poor, migrant workers and those lacking complete records.Opposition parties and several civil society groups have alleged that recent Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercises have resulted in the exclusion of large numbers of eligible voters from electoral rolls, though the EC has maintained that the exercise is intended to improve the accuracy of voter lists. The controversy has once again brought the relationship between citizenship documentation and voting rights into sharp public focus.Back to education reform and citizenshipExamination paper leaks have become a recurring concern in recent years. Nilekani’s expertise in technology and governance can undoubtedly help strengthen examination systems, improve transparency and reduce opportunities for malpractice.But can even a technologist of Nilekani’s stature address what many critics describe as a deeper crisis rooted not in technology but in the philosophy of governance? Technology can make systems more efficient; it cannot by itself determine whether governance is inclusive or exclusionary.Government employment, meanwhile, has not kept pace with the aspirations of millions of educated young Indians. Several labour market studies have identified unemployment as one of the country’s most pressing concerns. Anxiety, frustration and, in some instances, student suicides have become disturbing features of the educational landscape.Also read: Night Shifts at Jantar MantarJust as citizenship is fundamental to the right to vote, it is also a basic requirement for employment in government service. Candidates selected through the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), state public service commissions or other recruitment agencies routinely undergo police verification of their identity and citizenship. Traditionally, the process has been straightforward.Therefore, alongside constituting the Nilekani task force, the government should reassure young Indians that recruitment to public employment will remain transparent and that proving eligibility for government jobs will not become as procedurally burdensome as many now perceive electoral enrolment to be.Under the Citizenship Act, 1955, citizenship is principally determined by birth, parentage and other statutory provisions. Yet the continuing debates over documentation and eligibility have contributed to growing public anxiety over the relationship between the citizen and the state.Crisis of credibilityMore than examination paper leaks alone, the protests witnessed at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi and in several towns and cities across Bihar, Maharashtra, Gujarat and elsewhere reflect what appears to be a broader crisis of confidence in public institutions among Generation Z.Born largely in the mid-1990s and early 2000s, many of these young people were children when Narendra Modi first came to power in 2014. They have grown up amid unemployment, intense competition and persistent concerns over the quality of education. Increasingly, they are articulating their own political vocabulary and seeking their rightful place within India’s democratic framework.Also read: The Education Minister Did Not ResignFor many of them, questions of education, employment and social mobility matter more than ideological definitions of identity. They build friendships and solidarities across religion, caste and gender, shaped more by campuses and workplaces than by political narratives.Any attempt to address their concerns merely through carefully crafted political messaging may provide only temporary relief. Restoring confidence will require substantive reforms in education, recruitment and employment, accompanied by greater institutional transparency and fairness.The government may find individuals willing to appeal for calm, but such interventions are unlikely to substitute for structural reform. Young people are increasingly shaping their own narratives through independent networks, digital platforms and civic action beyond the reach of traditional political structures.Technology can undoubtedly make governance more efficient. But only credibility, fairness and inclusion can make it trustworthy.Nalin Verma is a journalist, author, folklorist and educator.