The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is facing a controversy over the tendering process for its digital evaluation system in India [1, 2].
This dispute centers on the integrity of student grading for millions of candidates. If the On-Screen Marking (OSM) system is compromised by technical failures or biased procurement, it could undermine the validity of national exam results.
Critics allege that the CBSE altered its eligibility criteria to favor a firm that had been previously black-listed [1, 3]. This change in the tendering process has led to accusations that the board compromised fairness to ensure a specific vendor secured the contract [1, 3].
Saurabh Bhardwaj, a member of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), questioned both the tendering and the evaluation system [3]. Bhardwaj said that the process may have been manipulated to award the contract [3].
Parallel to the procurement row, reports of technical glitches have surfaced. The OSM system has reportedly suffered from portal hacking and issues regarding answer sheets [2]. These failures have prompted demands for greater transparency, and accountability from the board [1, 3].
In response to the criticism, the government defended the digital evaluation process [2]. Officials said that OSM represents the future of examination grading [2]. The CBSE has also defended the system by stating it provides students the opportunity to have their evaluated answer books reviewed [4].
Despite these defenses, the controversy deepened in May 2026 as critics argued that the board has not fully addressed questions regarding the vendor's eligibility [1, 4, 5].
“The government defended CBSE's On-Screen Marking (OSM) system amid criticism, calling it the future.”
The clash between the Indian government and opposition critics highlights a tension between the rapid digitalization of public services and the need for rigorous procurement oversight. Because the CBSE manages one of the world's largest examination systems, any perceived flaw in the digital marking process creates a crisis of confidence among students and parents regarding the fairness of academic certification.
