CBSE Exam Marking Scandal Sparks Political Crisis in India
In May-June 2026, Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi demanded a judicial inquiry and SIT probe into alleged irregularities in CBSE’s On-Screen Marking (OSM) system, after students reported answer-sheet mismatches and scoring discrepancies. Gandhi accused Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan of complicity in awarding the contract to COEMPT (formerly Globarena), a company with prior controversies. The Congress party called for Pradhan’s resignation, alleging corruption and cybersecurity flaws. CBSE engaged IIT experts to review the system, while students faced high re-evaluation fees.
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Congress Accuses Education Minister Pradhan of Incompetence Over CBSE OSM Cybersecurity Flaws
The Congress party, led by general secretary Jairam Ramesh, has accused Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan of incompetence and a 'shameless desire for power' amid a controversy over the CBSE's On-Screen Marking (OSM) system. Ramesh alleged that Gen-Z ethical hackers exposed critical cybersecurity flaws in the CBSE's IT system as early as February 2025, which the board initially denied. He claimed that COEMPT Edu Tech submitted two invalid cybersecurity certificates to secure a contract at inflated rates, and that CBSE eventually stopped using COEMPT's platform after admitting it was compromised. The Congress demands Pradhan's resignation and an independent investigation. In response to student complaints, CBSE extended the deadline for verification and re-evaluation of Class 12 answer sheets to June 7.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Congress asks why PM protects Pradhan despite Education Ministry’s ‘incompetence and corruption’
The Congress party, led by general secretary Jairam Ramesh, launched a sharp attack on Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on June 3, 2026, over the controversy surrounding the CBSE's On-Screen Marking (OSM) system. Ramesh accused Pradhan of heading a 'corrupt, incompetent, and callous' ministry and questioned why Prime Minister Narendra Modi continues to protect him despite mounting evidence of failures. The attack follows the transfer of CBSE's top leadership, which Ramesh said failed to address accountability at the highest levels. He cited reports that CBSE could not answer parliamentary committee questions on OSM procurement, and noted that a student, Sarthak Sidhant, first flagged corruption in the tender via social media. Ramesh also highlighted that CBSE ignored warnings from participants in an OSM dry run, failed to meet re-evaluation deadlines, and faced technical glitches. On June 2, the Cabinet Secretariat announced a one-member inquiry committee chaired by S. Radha Chauhan to examine the OSM procurement process.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Congress attacks Modi government over CBSE marking system controversy, demands minister's resignation
The Congress party intensified its criticism of the Narendra Modi government over the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) On-Screen Marking (OSM) system controversy on June 1, 2026. Rahul Gandhi accused the government of 'financialising' education, stating that students bear the punishment for CBSE's mistakes while the government profits from re-evaluation fees. Congress demanded the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, calling him 'arrogant and incompetent'. Party leaders Jairam Ramesh and Pawan Khera alleged that CBSE acknowledged cybersecurity vulnerabilities after weeks of denial, and that tender norms were altered to favor contractor COEMPT. They claimed the system jeopardized the future and mental well-being of lakhs of students, and questioned why warnings from teachers about 36 major flaws were ignored.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Rahul Gandhi slams government over CBSE re-evaluation fees, calls it 'pickpocketing'
Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi criticized the Modi government on June 1, 2026, over the high cost of CBSE re-evaluation, accusing the board of treating education as a business. In a video shared on X, Gandhi highlighted that students may have to pay up to ₹2,000 to correct errors in their answer sheets, which he attributed to the flawed On-Screen Marking (OSM) system. He noted that with four lakh students applying for re-evaluation, the CBSE is generating significant revenue from its own mistakes. Gandhi interacted with students, including Vedant, whose Physics answer sheet was reportedly swapped during the revaluation process. He argued that the system is over-centralized and financially burdens students, calling it a structural problem in Indian education.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Rahul Gandhi Mocks Government Over CBSE Row, Meets Students Labeled 'Anti-National Soros Agents'
Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, met with a group of CBSE students who had been targeted online as 'anti-nationals' and 'deep state agents' after raising concerns about the CBSE On-Screen Marking (OSM) system. In a video shared on X, Gandhi demanded an independent judicial probe into the OSM row and criticized the government for insulting students instead of answering their legitimate questions. One student, Vedant, had alleged that the Physics answer sheet uploaded by CBSE for revaluation was not his. Gandhi also questioned the awarding of the contract for the OSM system to the company Coempt (Edu Teck), alleging it had a similar history in Telangana in 2019 under a different name (Globarena). CBSE has rejected Gandhi's allegations as 'erroneous, misleading, and not based on facts', stating that the contract was awarded following proper protocols.
"site:indianexpress.com" - Google NewsRahul Gandhi Mocks Government Over CBSE Exam Marking Controversy
Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticized the Modi government over the CBSE On-Screen Marking (OSM) controversy, where students alleged their uploaded answer sheets were mismatched. In a social media post, Gandhi sarcastically referred to himself and the students as 'anti-national Soros agents' and 'deep state agents,' mocking the government's response to legitimate concerns. The controversy began when a Class 12 student, Vedant, claimed his Physics answer sheet on the revaluation portal was not his, sparking widespread complaints. Gandhi met with affected students in New Delhi, promising to secure their future. He demanded an independent judicial probe and an SIT inquiry into what he called a 'scam.' CBSE has since engaged experts from IIT-Madras and IIT-Kanpur to review the system, while the company Coempt (formerly Globarena) faces scrutiny.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Rahul Gandhi Accuses Education Minister of Complicity in CBSE Marking Scandal, Demands His Sacking
On May 28, 2026, Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi accused Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan of being 'complicit' in awarding a contract for the CBSE's new on-screen marking (OSM) system to a controversial company, COEMPT (formerly Globarena). Gandhi questioned whether any background checks were conducted and alleged that Pradhan's actions had 'ruined the futures of lakhs of students.' He called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to sack Pradhan. Pradhan had earlier dismissed Gandhi's allegations as stemming from electoral losses. Congress communications chief Jairam Ramesh also criticized Pradhan, calling the ministry a 'den of corruption and mismanagement' and linking the issue to previous NEET exam irregularities.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Rahul Gandhi Demands Judicial Inquiry and SIT Over Alleged CBSE Exam Irregularities
On May 27, 2026, Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi demanded an independent judicial inquiry and the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate alleged massive irregularities in CBSE examination results. Gandhi questioned why the CBSE contract was awarded to COEMPT, a company previously embroiled in controversies while operating as Globarena in Telangana in 2019. He accused the Modi government of bypassing rules and failing to conduct background checks, alleging a 'calculated conspiracy' affecting 1.85 million students. Gandhi also demanded the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The controversy follows complaints from Class 12 students about scoring discrepancies and possible answer-sheet mismatches in the On-Screen Marking (OSM) system.
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