Congress Raises Alarm Over Massive Data Breach Affecting 2 Million CBSE Students

The Congress party has sounded the alarm over a significant data breach affecting the answer sheets of two million CBSE Class XII students. Jairam Ramesh criticized the incompetence of the COEMPT organization, highlighting serious privacy concerns. The party is demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and a full CBI investigation into the scandal. With questions raised about the quality of the scans and the handling of the On-Screen Marking System, the situation has sparked outrage among students and parents alike. Rahul Gandhi also criticized Prime Minister Modi for his silence on the issue, suggesting a lack of concern for students' futures.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 31, 2026, 13:37 IST

Major Data Breach Exposed

New Delhi: The Congress party has raised serious concerns regarding a significant data breach involving the answer sheets of two million students from the CBSE Class XII examinations, labeling it a "data breach of monumental proportions" that jeopardizes student privacy.

Jairam Ramesh, a prominent Congress leader, criticized the incompetence of the COEMPT organization, stating that this incident highlights their negligence.

Ramesh took to X to express his outrage, stating, "Today’s revelations regarding Minister Pradhan’s Ministry of Scandals show that the answer sheets of 2 million CBSE Grade 12 students are publicly accessible."

He emphasized that this breach severely compromises the privacy of these students.

Ramesh further pointed out that the answer sheets displayed signs of being scanned with mobile devices, as evidenced by folds and drop shadows, rather than using proper scanning equipment.

He questioned the quality of the scans, noting that the third RFP had removed specifications for robotic scanners, raising doubts about the type of scanners COEMPT ultimately employed.

Ramesh also referenced a post on X that claimed improper configuration of the CBSE's AWS bucket allowed for the pagination and enumeration of their media, which includes 2026 answer sheets and question papers.

On Saturday, the Congress party accused the CBSE of an "astonishing mix of incompetence, corruption, and callousness" in managing the Class XII Board exams, reiterating their call for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and a comprehensive CBI investigation into the scandal.

Ramesh highlighted two investigations—one by a CBSE Class XII student named Sarthak Sidhant and another by a media outlet—that raised new questions about the CBSE's preparedness and intent in implementing the On-Screen Marking System (OSM) for the exams.

Rahul Gandhi, another Congress leader, criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his silence on the CBSE crisis, suggesting that his inaction indicated a greater concern for his government’s stability than for the future of countless students.