Who Is V Kamakoti? IIT-Madras Director Dubbed ‘Gaumutra Expert’ by Priyanka Gandhi Sparks Political Row

IIT-Madras director V Kamakoti, named a member of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's high-powered task force on exam reforms headed by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani, has found himself at the centre of a political controversy after Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi questioned his inclusion in the panel, referring to him as a "gaumutra expert" (cow urine expert). The remark, made during a Lok Sabha debate, drew a sharp response from the BJP.

Why The Task Force Was Formed

The panel was announced by PM Modi on Sunday following more than a month of protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party against NEET paper leaks, which also led to the resignation of former education minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The high-powered committee was set up to overhaul the National Testing Agency's (NTA) examination system.

Besides Nilekani and Kamakoti, the task force includes former ISRO chairman S Somnath, former IB director Tapan Deka, former education secretary Anita Karwal, and logistics expert Amrit Lal Meena.

Who Is V Kamakoti

Kamakoti Veezhinathan holds a Master of Science and a PhD in Computer Science and Engineering from IIT Madras, and joined the institute's faculty in 2001. He took charge as director of IIT-Madras in January 2022.

According to his institutional profile, Kamakoti specialises in computer architecture, information security, and VLSI design. He leads the microprocessor development programme and the information security education and awareness programme at IIT-Madras, both funded by the ministry of electronics and information technology. His research team developed India's first indigenous microprocessor, Shakti. Who Are the Members of the High-Powered Task Force on NTA Exam Reforms? Who Will Lead Them?

He is also a member of the National Security Advisory Board and has previously chaired the artificial intelligence task force constituted by the ministry of commerce and industry. Within IIT-Madras, he has served as Chairman, JEE, and Associate Dean for industrial consultancy and sponsored research.

His accolades include the DRDO Academic Excellence Award, the Indian Electronics and Semiconductor Association Techno Visionary Award, the ACCS Life-time Achievement Award, the IBM Faculty Award, and the VASVIK Industrial Research Award. This year, he was conferred the Padma Shri in the science and engineering category for his work in computer architecture research and national security. He also holds an Abdul Kalam Technology Innovation National Fellowship.

Priyanka Gandhi's Remark And BJP's Response

Speaking during the debate on the anti-paper leak bill in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, Priyanka Gandhi questioned Kamakoti's inclusion in the task force.

"In this new committee, there is one ex-IB chief, one IT company owner, and one gaumutra expert," she said.

BJP leader Anurag Thakur hit back, saying he was saddened by remarks targeting one of India's foremost scientists and professors. He said Gandhi, with an "innocent face and subtle smiles," misleads people and tries to cover up the failures of previous Congress-led governments. Thakur also pointed out that Kamakoti is a former chairman of the Artificial Intelligence Task Force.

As Thakur spoke, a member from the Opposition benches remarked that Kamakoti is associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Thakur countered, saying, "Even if he is associated with the RSS, there is nothing wrong with that. You should also join the RSS, you will learn some values and start thinking about the country." Who Are the Experts in PM Modi's NTA Reform Task Force? Full List of Members Inside.

He added that he had expected Priyanka Gandhi to be different from her brother, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, but said her remarks changed his view. "But after the remarks she made today about the IIT-Madras Director, I feel that the brother and sister are alike. They are on the same path, and perhaps they are consuming something that affects the proper functioning of the brain. Maybe they should consume gaumutra (cow urine) instead," Thakur said.

What Kamakoti Has Said About Paper Leaks

After being named to the task force, Kamakoti said the biggest challenge in conducting examinations was ensuring the integrity and trustworthiness of the question paper setter. He noted that the number of students appearing for competitive exams has grown significantly over the past four decades, making technological intervention essential.

"In any examination system, two groups of people must be trustworthy. First, there are the question paper setters. They form the most critical group. Second, there are the invigilators at the examination centres. In my opinion, the biggest challenge is how we build and sustain trust among question paper setters," he was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

He said cameras have already been introduced for monitoring and proper invigilation, but stressed that the integrity of the paper setter remains the core issue.

Kamakoti also distinguished between the 2024 and 2026 NEET paper leaks, noting that the 2024 leak occurred during the transit of question papers after printing and affected around 40 to 50 students, according to the investigating agency. The 2026 leak, he said, was different, as it originated with the question paper setter rather than during distribution.

"We need teachers whom we can trust, people who will set the question paper, maintain complete confidentiality, and faithfully discharge their responsibility without revealing its contents. This is the single biggest challenge we face," he added.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 30, 2026 04:09 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).