Rahul Gandhi Slams PM Modi Over CBSE Marking Row: 11 Lakh Students Seek Re-evaluation
Rahul Gandhi Slams PM Modi Over CBSE Marking Row: 11 Lakh Students Seek Re-evaluation
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi questions CBSE's marking contract with COEMPT as 11 lakh students seek re-evaluation. Is the system fair? Find out more about the OSM controversy.
New Delhi is witnessing a heated political face-off as Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, has raised serious questions regarding the Central Board of Secondary Education’s (CBSE) on-screen marking (OSM) system. Mr. Gandhi took to social media to criticize Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence on the issue, suggesting that the government prioritizes its own survival over the future of lakhs of students.
At the heart of the controversy is how Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), a global IT giant, reportedly lost the CBSE evaluation contract to a company called COEMPT Edutek. Rahul Gandhi alleged that tender norms were systematically diluted to favor the latter. He pointed out that after two failed rounds of bidding, technical requirements like scanning resolution and CMMI certification levels were lowered. Even the requirement for robotic scanners was allegedly removed to accommodate the winning firm.
The consequences of these technical shifts are now being felt by students across the country. Reports suggest that evaluators have struggled with the portal, encountering badly scanned answer sheets and missing pages. The scale of the dissatisfaction is evident as nearly 11 lakh answer sheets have been requested for re-evaluation this year. Activists and student groups are now calling for an independent security audit of the entire OSM portal to ensure fairness.
Adding another layer to the drama, a series of near-identical videos featuring school principals have started circulating on social media. These videos use remarkably similar language to praise the OSM system as "fair," "transparent," and "technology-driven." While these videos defend the board's decision, critics argue they appear orchestrated to counter the growing backlash from parents and evaluators.
As the political row intensifies, the Education Ministry faces mounting pressure to address the glitches. For the millions of students waiting for their results to be accurately reflected, the debate over whether the system was ready for a nationwide rollout remains a critical concern.
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