In recent developments, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has sharply criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the ongoing controversy surrounding the Central Board of Secondary Education’s (CBSE) On-Screen Marking (OSM) system. Gandhi’s remarks come in the wake of whistleblower revelations by students Sarthak Sidhant and Nisarga Adhikary, who have exposed alleged irregularities in the CBSE’s evaluation process.
**Whistleblower Revelations**
Sarthak Sidhant, an 18-year-old student, along with his associate Nisarga Adhikary, has brought to light significant concerns regarding the CBSE’s OSM system. Their investigation suggests potential collusion between the CBSE and Coempt EduTeck Pvt Ltd, the company responsible for the digital evaluation infrastructure. Gandhi lauded their efforts, stating, “An 18-year-old from the country proved faster than the country’s major media houses and investigative journalists in exposing the collusion between CBSE and Coempt.” ([indiatoday.in](https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/cbse-osm-row-rahul-gandhi-praises-sarthak-sidhant-seeks-probe-into-coempt-tender-pm-modi-nisarga-2923236-2026-06-07?utm_source=openai))
**Allegations of Collusion**
The controversy intensified when reports emerged that Coempt EduTeck Pvt Ltd, a Hyderabad-based company, was linked to the CBSE’s OSM system. Questions have been raised about the company’s involvement and its connection to former IIT Madras professor S Sadagopan, who is reportedly a director at Coempt. This has led to concerns about potential conflicts of interest and the integrity of the evaluation process. ([indiatoday.in](https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/news/story/cbse-osm-controversy-iit-madras-link-vendor-role-system-failure-under-question-2917345-2026-05-27?utm_source=openai))
**CBSE’s Response**
In response to the allegations, the CBSE has denied claims of a security breach in its OSM system. The board clarified that the portal mentioned in the allegations was a testing site containing sample data and was not linked to the actual assessment platform. ([indiatoday.in](https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/story/evaluation-portal-not-compromised-targeted-site-only-has-test-data-cbse-rejects-security-breach-2917516-2026-05-26?utm_source=openai))
**Political Repercussions**
Rahul Gandhi’s criticism of Prime Minister Modi highlights the political dimensions of the controversy. Gandhi accused the Prime Minister of evading accountability, stating, “And Mr. Modi? As always, no answers, no accountability, no shame.” ([indiatoday.in](https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/education-today/news/story/cbse-result-irregularities-rahul-gandhi-seeks-probe-into-osm-linked-company-2917853-2026-05-27?utm_source=openai))
**Public Outcry and Student Complaints**
The OSM system, intended to modernize the evaluation process, has faced significant backlash from students and parents. Complaints include blurred answer sheets, missing pages, and discrepancies in scanned copies. Some students have alleged that the scanned answer sheets provided by the CBSE did not match their handwriting, raising concerns about the accuracy and fairness of the evaluation process. ([indiatoday.in](https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/news/story/cbse-re-evaluation-row-live-answer-sheet-mismatch-claims-osm-questions-and-student-complaints-surface-2917316-2026-05-26?utm_source=openai))
**Tender Process and Procurement Concerns**
Further scrutiny has been directed at the CBSE’s tender process for selecting the vendor for the OSM system. Reports indicate that the CBSE revised key tender norms after two failed bidding rounds, leading to questions about the preparedness and transparency of the procurement process. ([indiatoday.in](https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/news/story/cbse-class-12-osm-tender-two-failed-bids-led-to-relaxation-of-key-conditions-in-third-round-2918876-2026-05-29?utm_source=openai))
**Conclusion**
The CBSE OSM controversy has raised critical questions about the integrity and transparency of the board’s evaluation system. The involvement of whistleblowers like Sarthak Sidhant and Nisarga Adhikary underscores the importance of vigilance and accountability in educational processes. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the CBSE and the government will address these concerns to restore public trust in the examination system.
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