CBSE OSM Row: Student Who Flagged Tender Irregularities Appears Before Parliamentary Panel
Sarthak Sidhant, the 18-year-old student who raised allegations of irregularities in CBSE’s On-Screen Marking tender process, appeared before a Parliamentary Standing Committee and presented his findings. The panel is examining concerns linked to the OSM system used in CBSE Class 12 board examinations.
Student Presents Findings Before Parliamentary Panel
Sarthak Sidhant, an 18-year-old student who alleged irregularities in CBSE’s On-Screen Marking tender process, appeared before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports. He presented his findings related to the tender process and the implementation of the OSM system.
The committee, chaired by Congress MP Digvijaya Singh, met to discuss concerns linked to the use of the On-Screen Marking system in CBSE Class 12 board examinations. The panel is reviewing issues that surfaced after the rollout of the digital evaluation system.
What Sarthak Sidhant Alleged
Sarthak claimed that important eligibility and evaluation criteria were changed before the OSM contract was awarded to Hyderabad-based COEMT EduTech. He also raised concerns about the way the system was implemented and how it affected students during the board examination evaluation process.
According to his claims, the tender process went through three rounds before the contract was finalised. The first two rounds did not result in a successful award, while COEMT EduTech secured the project in the third round.
Eligibility Changes
The student claimed that some eligibility conditions were modified before the final contract award.
Evaluation Criteria
He alleged that changes in evaluation criteria may have benefited the selected company.
Implementation Concerns
He also raised questions over the rollout of the OSM system and its effect on students.
Parliamentary Committee Reviews CBSE OSM Concerns
The Parliamentary Standing Committee is reviewing concerns linked to the OSM system after questions were raised about tender documents, portal implementation and student impact. The committee heard Sarthak’s presentation as part of its examination of the matter.
On Sarthak’s presentation, Singh said that the student had made his submission and that it was for the committee to decide on the replies given by CBSE.
CBSE OSM Tender Row: Key Timeline
The controversy is linked to changes allegedly seen across tender documents and the time gap between contract award and national rollout of the OSM system.
Changes Highlighted In Tender Documents
Sarthak said he reviewed tender documents and records available on government procurement portals. He claimed that multiple changes were made in the Request for Proposal documents issued between May and August 2025.
Among the changes he highlighted was the removal of a clause related to “poor performance” in previous projects. He claimed that earlier documents allowed disqualification of bidders with poor performance history, failure to complete contracts or financial weakness, but this condition was removed in the August 2025 version.
| Issue Highlighted | Earlier Position Claimed | Revised Position Claimed |
|---|---|---|
| Poor performance clause | Bidders with poor past performance, contract failure or financial weakness could face disqualification | The clause was allegedly removed from the August 2025 RFP |
| Blacklisting criteria | Companies blacklisted in the past could be disqualified | Revised wording allegedly referred only to companies that were currently blacklisted |
| Evaluation framework | Earlier tender conditions had different eligibility and evaluation requirements | Changes allegedly made before the final contract award |
Nisarg Adhikari Also Summoned By Panel
The parliamentary panel had also summoned Nisarg Adhikari, who was among the first to highlight alleged shortcomings in the OSM portal. However, he did not appear before the committee.
The panel is continuing to examine concerns related to the OSM system, including tender process questions, portal functioning and its impact on students whose answer sheets were evaluated through the system.
Why The CBSE OSM Row Matters For Students
CBSE’s On-Screen Marking system was introduced as a digital evaluation process for board answer scripts. Any concern around tender transparency, scanning, evaluation or portal reliability can directly affect student confidence in board results.
Students and parents have been closely watching the issue because board marks are important for higher education admissions, scholarship applications and future academic planning. A transparent review process may help address doubts around the digital evaluation system.
- Board marks affect college admissions
- Evaluation transparency is important
- Digital systems must be reliable
- Students need clear grievance support
- Portal errors can create anxiety
- Tender process questions affect trust
- Answer sheet access should be smooth
- Official clarification is important
What Students Should Do If They Face OSM-Related Issues
Students who face problems with scanned copies, marks verification or re-evaluation should use only CBSE’s official post-result services. They should avoid unofficial agents, social media claims or third-party links.
- Check all official CBSE notices carefully.
- Use only the official CBSE post-result portal.
- Download and save scanned answer copy, if available.
- Keep result, roll number and school details ready.
- Report mismatch or portal issues through official channels.
- Save acknowledgement receipts after submitting requests.
- Track CBSE updates for verification or re-evaluation outcomes.
CBSE OSM Row: Key Details At A Glance
| Point | Details |
|---|---|
| System In Question | CBSE On-Screen Marking system |
| Student Who Presented Findings | Sarthak Sidhant |
| Panel Reviewing Matter | Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports |
| Committee Chair | Digvijaya Singh |
| Company Named | COEMT EduTech, Hyderabad |
| Contract Award Date | December 5, 2025 |
| Full Rollout Announcement | February 9, 2026 |
| Main Concern | Alleged tender changes and student impact after OSM rollout |
FAQs On CBSE OSM Tender Row
Who appeared before the parliamentary panel in the CBSE OSM row?
Sarthak Sidhant, an 18-year-old student who alleged irregularities in the CBSE OSM tender process, appeared before the parliamentary panel.
What is the CBSE OSM system?
OSM stands for On-Screen Marking, a digital evaluation system used for checking board examination answer scripts.
Which parliamentary committee is reviewing the issue?
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports is examining concerns related to the OSM system.
Who chairs the parliamentary committee?
The committee is chaired by Congress MP Digvijaya Singh.
Which company was awarded the OSM contract?
The contract was awarded to Hyderabad-based COEMT EduTech, according to the report.
When was the OSM contract awarded?
The OSM contract was formally awarded on December 5, 2025.
What did Sarthak Sidhant allege?
He alleged that eligibility and evaluation criteria were changed before the contract award and that some changes appeared to benefit the selected company.
