Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has launched a probe into the Central Board of Secondary Education regarding its on-screen marking system [1, 2].
The investigation centers on the integrity of the digital grading process and the procurement of the software used to evaluate student exams. Any systemic failure or irregularity in marking could potentially impact the academic records and future opportunities of millions of students across India.
The Ministry of Education has specifically requested a detailed report on the COEMPT contract [1, 2]. This request follows allegations of irregularities within the tendering process used to select the service provider. Officials are examining whether the board improperly altered eligibility criteria to favor specific bidders, a move that would violate standard government procurement protocols.
Beyond the financial and administrative aspects of the contract, the probe is investigating the technical preparedness of the on-screen marking system [1, 2]. Concerns have been raised regarding whether the technology was sufficiently tested and stable before being deployed for large-scale examinations.
The investigation is being coordinated from the Ministry of Education headquarters in New Delhi [1]. The ministry is reviewing the timeline of the contract award and the specific technical requirements that were mandated during the bidding phase.
While the CBSE has not issued a formal statement regarding the specific findings of the probe, the request for the COEMPT report indicates a focus on the legal and technical framework of the digital transition. The ministry aims to determine if the transition from paper-based to digital marking was compromised by administrative lapses [1, 2].
“The Ministry of Education has launched a probe into the CBSE on‑screen marking controversy.”
This investigation signals a critical scrutiny of India's transition toward digital governance in education. If the probe finds that the COEMPT contract was awarded through irregular means or that the software was technically inadequate, it may lead to a complete overhaul of the CBSE's procurement process and a potential audit of the marks awarded under the disputed system.
