Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has accused the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) of compromising the integrity of the Class 12 examination evaluation process.
He alleged that answer sheets were scanned using mobile phones, raising serious concerns about transparency and accuracy in student assessments.
The Congress leader made the remarks while responding to allegations made by a Class 12 student from Jharkhand, who claimed that changes in CBSE’s tender requirements benefited a specific vendor selected for the board’s On-Screen Marking (OSM) system.
What Rahul Gandhi Alleged
In a post on social media platform X, Rahul Gandhi claimed that CBSE’s original tender issued in May 2025 required answer sheets to be scanned using automated robotic scanners with a minimum resolution of 300 DPI while preserving the answer sheet spines.
According to him, a revised tender issued in August 2025 removed several of these technical requirements.
He alleged that:
- Automated robotic scanner requirements were removed.
- The minimum scanning resolution was reduced from 300 DPI to 200 DPI.
- Generic scanning methods were allowed.
- Answer sheets were allegedly scanned using mobile phones.
Gandhi argued that these changes may have contributed to issues such as blurred images, missing pages, and incomplete answer booklets.
Student’s Investigation Sparks National Debate
The controversy gained attention after Class 12 student Sarthak Sidhant published findings from his review of procurement documents available on the Central Public Procurement Portal.
The student claimed that technical eligibility conditions in three rounds of the Request for Proposal (RFP) process were gradually relaxed. According to his analysis, the modifications allegedly allowed Hyderabad-based company Coempt Edu Teck to qualify for the contract.
His findings triggered widespread discussion on social media and raised questions about the evaluation process used for millions of students.
CBSE May Take Action Against Vendor
Reports indicate that CBSE is considering action against its On-Screen Marking service provider, Coempt Edu Teck.
Officials familiar with the matter stated that penalties may be imposed under the terms of the August 2025 tender agreement.
The contract reportedly includes provisions such as:
- Financial penalties for delays in resolving technical issues.
- Withholding of security deposits.
- Possible termination of the contract in severe cases.
CBSE officials are examining complaints related to the online evaluation system and post-result portal issues.
Growing Concerns Over Evaluation Transparency
The allegations come at a time when CBSE is already facing scrutiny over technical glitches and reported irregularities in evaluated answer sheets.
Education experts say that maintaining transparency and robust digital infrastructure is critical for protecting student interests and preserving public trust in examination systems.
As the controversy continues, students, parents, and educators are awaiting a detailed response from CBSE regarding the allegations and any corrective measures that may follow.
What’s Next?
The issue is likely to remain under public and political scrutiny in the coming weeks. Any official findings or action taken by CBSE could have significant implications for examination evaluation standards across the country.
For now, the board’s response and the outcome of any investigation will be closely watched by stakeholders in India’s education sector.
