The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)'s on-screen marking (OSM) system for Class 12 board examinations has faced significant controversy, with reports revealing that Coempt EduTeck won the crucial vendor tender over tech giant TCS.
The Bidding Process and Tender Challenges
According to reports, Coempt EduTeck emerged as the successful bidder in the third tender floated by CBSE for the OSM system. The initial two tender rounds had failed to secure a qualified vendor, with the first receiving no bids and the second yielding no eligible participants.
The third tender was reportedly issued in August 2025, a mere six months before the system was scheduled for deployment for the 2026 Class 12 board examinations. A senior board official acknowledged that earlier attempts to find a vendor had failed, prompting a re-evaluation and modification of the Request for Proposal (RFP) documents to address shortcomings and ensure broader participation.
Technical Dilution and Financial Win
Both TCS and Coempt EduTeck successfully cleared the technical evaluation phase in the third tender. However, Coempt ultimately secured the contract by being the lowest financial bidder. Critically, reports indicate that several technical requirements were substantially diluted between the failed tenders and the final RFP documents.
- The minimum scanning resolution, for instance, was reduced from “300 DPI and above” to “minimum 200 DPI with clearly readable content.”
- TCS had previously advocated for a lower DPI threshold of 150, a request CBSE did not fully grant but nonetheless relaxed the standard.
Operational Issues and Teacher Concerns
The hasty rollout and technical compromises appear to have contributed to significant operational challenges. Teachers who participated in the field exercise prior to the system's deployment had warned that the OSM system required at least one to two years of further preparation.
Despite these warnings, the system proceeded, leading to widespread complaints. Out of 9,866,622 answer books evaluated, a staggering 68,018 had to be rescanned due to poor image quality. Furthermore, 13,583 answer sheets required manual checking after repeated scanning attempts failed to produce legible copies.
An unnamed CBSE official maintained that the board adhered to established guidelines and selected the company through a proper tender process.
The controversy has also seen protests, with NSUI members staging demonstrations over the issues surrounding the CBSE's OSM system.