CBSE Student Sarthak Sidhant Flags OSM Tender Irregularities, Board Says Will Respond In Writing | Education and Career News
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Sarthak Sidhant, an 18-year-old CBSE student from Jharkhand who was directly affected by the system, made a detailed presentation before the committee.
Sarthak Sidhant at the Parliament. (Image: ANI)
Top officials of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Tuesday refrained from responding to several key questions raised during a meeting of a parliamentary panel regarding alleged irregularities in the vendor selection process for online marking in Class 12 examinations, reported PTI. According to sources, the board said it would submit a detailed written response at a later stage.
During their appearance before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports, CBSE officials presented their position on the controversy surrounding the On-Screen Marking (OSM) system. The issue has triggered widespread concern among students, many of whom reported glitches and inconsistencies during the evaluation process.
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The Ministry of School Education also submitted a brief, one-page note to the panel addressing the concerns linked to the online marking system.
Adding to the discussion, Sarthak Sidhant, an 18-year-old student from Jharkhand who was directly affected by the system, made a detailed presentation before the committee. Highlighting alleged discrepancies in the tendering process for selecting vendors, Sidhant raised several questions about procedural lapses and transparency. He also submitted a seven-page report outlining his findings.
The panel, chaired by Congress MP Digvijaya Singh, heard Sidhant’s presentation and sought clarifications from CBSE officials. While the board responded to some queries, it did not provide clear answers on critical issues, including the absence of background checks before awarding the contract and alleged last-minute changes to tender norms.
Panel members also flagged concerns over the rollout of the online marking system without adequate testing, trial runs, or proper training for teachers, the report added. They called for fixing accountability and taking strict action against those responsible for the lapses.
In response, CBSE officials said the technical issues affecting the system had been resolved and that the servers were now functioning normally. They informed the panel that the window for students to apply for re-evaluation would remain open until June 6, adding that there was no need for an extension.
However, some members suggested that students should be compensated, either through grace marks or expedited evaluation, in light of the difficulties faced. They also reiterated the need for accountability and possible action against officials or the vendor involved.
Separately, the CBSE submitted a report to the committee presenting its perspective on the issues raised. The board assured members that the technical glitches on its portal had been rectified and that students had sufficient time to apply for re-evaluation.
The meeting, held at the Parliament House Annexe, took place amid growing concerns over evaluation discrepancies and post-result challenges faced by Class 12 students. The panel had summoned CBSE and Ministry of School Education officials to examine the implementation of the OSM system and its impact.
In addition to the marking issue, the committee also discussed the implementation of the three-language formula in Classes 9 and 10.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Digvijaya Singh acknowledged Sidhant’s presentation but refrained from commenting on whether he was satisfied with the CBSE’s responses, stating that the committee would take a view on the matter. He also declined to comment on the three-language formula, noting that the issue is sub judice.
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