The Central Bureau of Secondary Education (CBSE) has been embroiled in a controversy over the On-Screen Marking (OSM) system for Class 12 Board examinations. The system, which digitally scans and evaluates answer books online, has been criticized for being faulty and has led to discrepancies in student marks.
Coempt Edutech, a firm based in Telangana, has been in the spotlight amid the controversy. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi had cited the firm's "murky past" in Telangana in his criticism of the CBSE. However, the CBSE has rejected allegations that it awarded a contract to Coempt Edutech, saying the claim was "erroneous, misleading and not based on facts."
Coempt Edutech's website describes the company as a leading EdTech firm with over 25 years of experience in providing end-to-end examination solutions. The company claims to have delivered large turnkey projects and has empowered clients to practice transparency and good governance.
The CBSE has followed due procedure under the General Financial Rules in awarding the contract to the agency. The board floated the RFP for Digital Evaluation of Answer books for Board Exams 2026 on the Central Public Procurement portal and awarded the contract to the qualified bidder.
Rahul Gandhi had demanded an independent judicial probe and an investigation by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the matter. He had also questioned why a firm with a murky past in Telangana was awarded the contract.
