CBSE OSM Row: Student appears before Parliamentary panel, raises tender irregularity concerns
The controversy surrounding CBSE’s On-Screen Marking (OSM) system intensified on Tuesday as 18-year-old student Sarthak Sidhant appeared before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports to present his findings regarding alleged irregularities in the tender process for the evaluation system.
Sarthak, who claims to have uncovered discrepancies through detailed research and coding-based analysis, told the committee that key eligibility and evaluation criteria in the tender documents were modified before the contract was awarded to Hyderabad-based COEMT EduTech. He also raised concerns about the implementation of the OSM system and its impact on Class 12 students.
The Parliamentary panel, chaired by senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh, reviewed concerns related to the rollout of the digital evaluation system. Speaking after the meeting, Singh said the committee remains concerned about issues affecting students and would take necessary steps in their interest. The panel is currently examining complaints linked to the OSM process and its overall effectiveness.
According to Sarthak, the tender process underwent multiple revisions between May and August 2025. He alleged that certain clauses, including provisions related to poor past performance and blacklisting criteria, were altered before the final contract was awarded. He claimed these changes may have benefited the selected vendor. The student had earlier examined publicly available procurement records and submitted his findings to authorities.
The issue has gained attention amid growing concerns over the OSM system, with students and parents raising questions about evaluation accuracy, technical glitches, and transparency. The parliamentary committee is expected to continue its review before making recommendations on the matter.
