A 17-year-old student's blog post has sparked a nationwide controversy over the Central Board of Secondary Education's (CBSE) On-Screen Marking (OSM) system. Sarthak Sidhant, a Class 12 student from Jharkhand, spent several days reviewing tender documents on the Central Public Procurement portal and found discrepancies in the procurement process.
Sidhant's blog alleges that the CBSE systematically modified eligibility and technical requirements across three successive tender rounds to favor the winning vendor, Hyderabad-based Coempt EduTeck Private Limited. The company has denied any wrongdoing, as has the CBSE.
The student's investigation found at least 15 discrepancies in the tender documents, including a lowering of the technical and eligibility bar for the OSM contract. Sidhant also alleged that project criteria were changed in ways that disadvantaged larger vendors.
The controversy has drawn responses from senior political figures, including Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, who shared the blog on X and demanded a judicial investigation. The CBSE has defended its procurement process, saying it followed protocols "scrupulously" and that the contract was awarded to the lowest qualified bidder.
The government has acknowledged exam-related friction and officials have said no payment has been released to Coempt EduTeck so far. A CBSE official said penalties would be "reviewed after completion of the re-evaluation process and supplementary examinations."
