CBSE's Digital Evaluation System Faces Scrutiny Amid Concerns
CBSE's On-Screen Marking Controversy
CBSE OSM Row: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), responsible for conducting examinations for millions of students across the country, is currently in the spotlight due to its digital evaluation system. The On-Screen Marking (OSM) initiative was initially seen as a significant step towards modernization and transparency, but its implementation has raised several questions.
Reports indicate that there was only a 66-day gap between awarding the digital evaluation contract and the nationwide implementation of the system. This short timeframe, coupled with some technical discrepancies in answer sheets, has brought the issue to the forefront.
Challenges in the Selection Process
According to CBSE officials, the process of selecting a suitable company for digital evaluation underwent multiple stages. The first two rounds of tenders did not yield any final selection. Subsequently, technical specifications were revised, and a new process was initiated. Officials noted that it took several attempts before qualified companies emerged in the final round, allowing the selection process to conclude.
Why COEMPT Was Selected?
Officials explained that both COEMPT and TCS passed the final round and held Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) Level 5 certification at the time of contract awarding, which is the highest level of process maturity certification.
One official stated, 'In the third round of financial bidding, COEMPT quoted ₹24.75 per answer sheet including tax, while TCS quoted around ₹65 including tax. The difference was substantial. We had to award the contract to the lowest bidder, hence COEMPT was chosen.' The board justified that according to procurement rules, contracts should be awarded to the lowest qualified bidder.
CBSE Acknowledges Errors
In light of concerns raised by students and parents, officials admitted that approximately 20 discrepancies were reported during the evaluation process. One official remarked, 'For the student whose answer sheets went missing, no explanation is sufficient. However, if speed alone determines errors, similar incidents could occur again.'
The board stated that it is investigating how these discrepancies occurred and is working to ensure the system is 'completely error-free.'
Officials mentioned that nearly 9.8 million answer sheets were evaluated and argued that errors can occur in both manual and digital systems.
Penalties for Scanning Errors
Officials indicated that penalties would be determined against the vendor after the verification process is complete. According to the contract provisions, a fine of ₹4,000 is imposed for each incorrectly scanned or mismatched answer sheet. Partially scanned sheets incur a penalty of ₹8,000, while completely unscanned copies attract a fine of ₹15,000.
Board Defends Vendor Amid Political Criticism
CBSE officials defended the selection of COEMPT amidst allegations from opposition leaders, including Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, regarding the company's previous work in Telangana.
One official stated that the company's post-examination management work in the state had been scrutinized by courts, and nothing unusual was found.
Referring to the 2019 controversy regarding the company's work in Telangana, the official noted that the High Court found no wrongdoing by the company, and a special leave petition filed in the Supreme Court was dismissed.
Management Responsibilities
Officials further stated that COEMPT is already managing digital evaluation and post-examination processes in several states, including Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Gujarat.
Starting next year, answer sheets will be shared via DigiLocker. Officials revealed that CBSE plans to provide scanned copies of students' answer sheets through DigiLocker next year, aiming to enhance transparency in the post-result process.