Education Ministry Investigates CBSE's On-Screen Marking Controversy

The Education Ministry has launched an investigation into the CBSE's On-Screen Marking system following allegations of irregularities in the contract awarded to COEMPT. The ministry is scrutinizing the tender process and has requested detailed reports from CBSE. Officials found guilty of any lapses may face strict action. Notably, CBSE currently lacks the authority to blacklist COEMPT under the existing contract. The controversy gained traction after a student claimed that the answer sheet uploaded during re-evaluation was not his, leading to widespread concerns among students. The ministry's review aims to ensure accountability and adherence to established procedures.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 2, 2026, 10:00 IST

Investigation into CBSE's On-Screen Marking System

The ongoing controversy surrounding the Central Board of Secondary Education's (CBSE) On-Screen Marking (OSM) system has escalated to the Ministry of Education. The ministry is taking this issue seriously and has requested a comprehensive report from CBSE regarding the contract awarded to the service provider, COEMPT. Sources indicate that the ministry has asked for a detailed account of the entire tender process, including the procedures followed and the officials involved in the decision-making.

The aim of this review is to ascertain whether all established criteria and processes were adhered to during the selection of the service provider. Officials are expected to submit detailed records and documents related to the tender process.

Strict Action Against Errant Officials

The Ministry of Education has hinted that strict action may be recommended against officials found guilty of any lapses or irregularities in awarding the contract. Sources have stated that if the review uncovers procedural violations or deficiencies in the tender process, accountability will be established.

CBSE Lacks Authority to Blacklist COEMPT

A significant point of discussion is that CBSE currently does not have the authority to blacklist COEMPT under the final version of the contract. Sources revealed that the original tender issued by CBSE in August 2025 included provisions that allowed the board to take stringent actions against vendors in cases of gross negligence or repeated violations.

Changes in Contract Provisions

Under these provisions, a CBSE committee could issue a show-cause notice to the company, seize its performance bank guarantee (PBG), terminate the contract, and even blacklist the vendor. The tender also permitted the board to confiscate security deposits in cases of repeated contractual breaches. However, significant changes were made to these provisions through a corrigendum issued in September 2025.

Removal of Blacklisting Clause

Sources have indicated that the corrigendum from September 2025 removed the clause allowing for blacklisting. Consequently, while CBSE retains the power to impose financial penalties, seize security deposits, and terminate agreements, it no longer has the authority to blacklist vendors under the current contract. This development is likely to attract public attention as the Ministry of Education reviews the circumstances surrounding the contract award.

Financial Penalties Only

Under the final contract, the vendor may face substantial financial penalties and even termination of the agreement, but blacklisting is not an option.

Contractual Provisions Highlighted

According to the report, the contract includes provisions such as a penalty of ₹1 lakh for every 15 minutes of delay in resolving serious issues, and a similar penalty for every 60 minutes of delay in submitting a root-cause analysis and corrective action plan. Serious cases may lead to the seizure of the security deposit, and major errors or failures could result in contract termination. Despite these provisions, the absence of a blacklisting clause has emerged as a critical issue in the ongoing investigation.

Monitoring of OSM System

Amid this controversy, CBSE announced on Sunday that it is closely monitoring vulnerabilities in the OSM portal operated by its service provider. In a statement released on social media, the board mentioned that teams of cybersecurity experts from various government agencies and Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) have been deployed to strengthen the system and enhance its security.

According to CBSE, experts have been working on this issue for several days and have already addressed identified vulnerabilities. The board further stated that efforts are ongoing to eliminate any remaining potential weaknesses.

Acknowledgment of Public Concerns

CBSE also expressed gratitude to vigilant citizens and ethical hackers who raised their concerns and encouraged others to share security-related suggestions with their technical teams.

Background of the OSM Controversy

The controversy began when a 12th-grade student, Vedant, alleged that the physics answer sheet uploaded by CBSE during the re-evaluation process did not belong to him. His post on social media quickly went viral, prompting several other students to voice similar concerns regarding their answer sheets accessed through the portal.

Following these allegations, a significant debate arose regarding the reliability of the newly implemented OSM system. Reports, citing government sources, indicated that approximately 20 cases of answer sheet mix-ups were reported during the OSM process.

Issues with Digital Evaluation

Officials reported that over 9.8 million answer sheets were scanned through the digital evaluation system. Among these, around 68,000 copies were found to have quality-related issues, necessitating re-scanning. Even after re-scanning, it was reported that just over 13,000 answer sheets failed to meet the expected clarity standards.