Rahul Gandhi alleges CBSE tender dilution led to phone-scanned answer sheets
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has accused the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) of diluting tender specifications, leading to answer sheets being scanned using mobile phones and resulting in evaluation errors. He alleged that initial tender requirements for robotic scanners and 300 DPI resolution were relaxed in later versions, allowing for the use of generic scanners and a lower resolution, which he claims benefited a specific vendor, COEMPT. This has intensified scrutiny on the CBSE's On-Screen Marking (OSM) system.
Key Highlights
- Rahul Gandhi claims CBSE relaxed tender norms for answer sheet scanning.
- Allegations suggest answer sheets were scanned using mobile phones instead of professional equipment.
- Tender specifications for scanners and resolution were reportedly diluted.
- Concerns raised about the procurement process and potential favouritism towards vendor COEMPT.
- Student investigations and political criticism highlight issues with CBSE's digital evaluation system.
The ongoing controversy surrounding the Central Board of Secondary Education's (CBSE) On-Screen Marking (OSM) system has been amplified by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's strong accusations that the tender process was manipulated, leading to significant evaluation errors. Gandhi alleges that the CBSE progressively diluted technical specifications across multiple tender rounds for its digital evaluation system, ultimately benefiting a specific vendor, COEMPT Edu Teck..
Initially, a tender issued in May 2025 reportedly required answer sheets to be scanned using automatic robotic scanners with preserved spines at a minimum resolution of 300 DPI. However, a revised tender in August 2025 allegedly removed these strict requirements, specifying generic 'scanners' and reducing the resolution to 200 DPI.. Gandhi contends that this dilution allowed for answer sheets to be scanned using mobile phones, a practice he claims is responsible for issues such as blurred copies, missing pages, and unscanned documents, which he terms as "fraud" rather than mere errors..
These allegations stem from an investigation by a 17-year-old student, Sarthak Sidhant, who meticulously analyzed tender documents. Sidhant claims that the CBSE conducted the tender process three times, with the first two rounds failing to attract qualified bidders. He alleges that the technical bar was lowered in the third round, allowing COEMPT to qualify, despite other technically qualified bidders like Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) reportedly not being awarded the contract.. Concerns have also been raised about COEMPT Edu Teck's past performance, with reports linking it to a controversial 2019 intermediate exam results issue in Telangana when it operated under the name Globarena Technologies..
The controversy has put the CBSE under immense pressure, compounding existing concerns about technical glitches in its post-result portal and other irregularities in evaluated answer sheets.. Several students have reported discrepancies between their original answer sheets and the digital copies, including blurry scans and missing pages.. The CBSE has since acknowledged vulnerabilities in its digital platform, the OnMark portal, and stated that cybersecurity experts have been deployed to strengthen the system..
In response to the escalating allegations, the Ministry of Education has initiated an internal crackdown and sought a detailed report from the CBSE regarding the tender process.. The ministry is reportedly considering action against officials if procedural lapses or negligence are established.. While the CBSE has maintained that its procurement process followed government protocols and denied allegations of wrongdoing, the political and public scrutiny continues to mount, questioning the transparency and ethics of the system's procurement and implementation.. The Ministry of Education is also examining the lack of a comprehensive digital repository architecture and robust cybersecurity systems for answer sheets and examination records..
Rahul Gandhi has directly targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, criticizing his silence on the issue and calling it "complicity" rather than indifference.. He contrasted the Prime Minister's focus on less critical matters, like mangoes during his 'Mann Ki Baat' address, with his apparent lack of attention to the concerns of millions of students affected by the evaluation errors.. The opposition has demanded an independent judicial probe and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) inquiry into the matter..
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main allegation Rahul Gandhi has made regarding the CBSE tender?
Rahul Gandhi alleges that the CBSE diluted its tender specifications for answer sheet scanning across multiple rounds, which he claims led to issues like answer sheets being scanned using mobile phones and resulting in evaluation errors.
What specific changes in the tender are being highlighted?
The initial tender reportedly required robotic scanners and a 300 DPI resolution. Critics claim this was relaxed to generic 'scanners' and a lower 200 DPI resolution in later tenders, allegedly benefiting a specific vendor.
Who is COEMPT and what is their role in this controversy?
COEMPT Edu Teck is the vendor that was awarded the contract for CBSE's On-Screen Marking (OSM) system. Allegations suggest that the tender process was modified to favor this company.
What are the consequences of these alleged tender changes?
The alleged changes have led to issues such as blurred answer sheets, missing pages, and unscanned documents, which Rahul Gandhi has termed "fraud." These problems have affected students' evaluation and marks.
What action is being taken in response to these allegations?
The Ministry of Education has initiated an internal crackdown, seeking a report from the CBSE and considering action against officials. The CBSE has also acknowledged vulnerabilities in its digital platform and is working to strengthen security.