Hyderabad-based Coempt Edu Tek Pvt Ltd is facing mounting pressure amid allegations of widespread irregularities in the examination processes at Nagpur University. The firm, which secured a three-year contract worth approximately ₹5 crore to manage pre- and post-examination work for the 2025-26 academic year, has reportedly impacted over 300,000 students.
Allegations of Widespread Errors and Delays
Students and university officials have raised numerous concerns regarding Coempt's handling of examination operations. Key allegations include:
- Errors in marksheets and incorrect calculation of scores.
- Mismatches in subjects on admit cards and examination forms.
- Technical glitches encountered during the examination process.
- Significant delays in processing results and disrupting academic schedules.
- Allegations of using false documents during the bidding process for the contract.
Specific issues reported by students during the summer examination ranged from hall tickets being issued less than 24 hours before exams to incorrect subjects appearing on admit cards. An examination official highlighted basic arithmetic errors in fee collection, stating,
"Basic addition of student exam fees is riddled with errors. Instead of ₹96,000, the portal showed ₹9.6 lakh as payment collected. It's just trauma for students since Coempt took over."
Student Protests and University Response
In response to the mounting issues, students have demanded immediate declaration of pending results, accountability from the examination department, an independent inquiry into Coempt's role, and a transparent examination and evaluation process. The widespread discontent forced Nagpur University to re-conduct summer exams using corrected marksheets, leading to further delays that have impacted admission cycles, revaluation processes, and applications for higher education.
The university has served a legal notice to Coempt and established a three-member panel to investigate the matter. The Maharashtra higher and technical education department has also sought an explanation from Nagpur University. The National Students' Union of India (NSUI) has accused Coempt of submitting fraudulent documents to secure the contract, further alleging that the firm was previously blacklisted by universities in Telangana.
Ongoing Inquiry and Broader Scrutiny
Manmohan Bajpai, a university senate member heading the inquiry panel, confirmed that two hearings with Coempt officials have taken place. He noted that while Coempt blamed a previous agency for data handover issues leading to initial delays, similar problems persisted in the current summer exams. Bajpai added that the Vice Chancellor has instructed the panel to identify any university officials who might have been complicit in the alleged irregularities.
This controversy at Nagpur University is not an isolated incident for Coempt Edu Tek. The Hyderabad-based firm is already under scrutiny for its involvement in the Central Board of Secondary Education's (CBSE) On-Screen Marking (OSM) system, which faced its own set of controversies regarding the evaluation of Class 12 answer scripts.