Education – Rahul Gandhi Seeks Probe Over Alleged CBSE Evaluation Irregularities
Education – Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday intensified criticism of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), alleging serious irregularities in the evaluation process of board examinations and demanding an independent judicial inquiry along with a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe. The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha claimed that the future of nearly 18.5 lakh students may have been affected due to suspected manipulation linked to the digital assessment system used during the evaluation process.
Gandhi Raises Questions Over Evaluation Contract
In a post shared on social media platform X, Rahul Gandhi accused the Union government of failing to provide clarity over the controversy. He alleged that the issue was not a simple administrative lapse but a matter that required a detailed investigation.
The Congress MP questioned the decision to award the evaluation-related contract to a company identified as COEMPT. According to him, the firm had previously functioned under the name Globarena and was associated with an earlier controversy connected to examination systems in Telangana in 2019.
He argued that despite the company’s past record, it was still entrusted with handling a critical academic process affecting millions of students. Gandhi further claimed that proper scrutiny and verification should have been carried out before assigning such responsibilities.
Demand for Judicial Inquiry and SIT Investigation
Rahul Gandhi also sought answers regarding the procedures followed while granting the contract. He alleged that important rules may have been ignored during the selection process and questioned whether authorities had conducted adequate background checks.
Calling the matter a “serious conspiracy” against students, he said an independent judicial probe was necessary to determine accountability. He further demanded that a Special Investigation Team be formed immediately to investigate the alleged lapses and identify those responsible.
The Congress leader stated that examination systems must remain transparent and trustworthy because they directly impact the careers and future opportunities of students across the country. He added that parents and students deserve clear answers from authorities.
CBSE Rejects Claims of Security Breach
The CBSE, however, firmly denied allegations suggesting that its On-Screen Marking (OSM) system had been compromised. In an official clarification issued earlier this week, the board stated that claims circulating on social media were based on misleading information.
According to the board, the web address being shared online was not connected to the actual evaluation portal used for assessing answer sheets. Officials clarified that the link referred only to a testing platform containing sample information and not real student records or examination data.
The board stressed that the original evaluation system remains secure and that no marks, answer sheets, or student details were exposed. It also stated that the assessment process includes multiple safeguards and verification layers designed to maintain fairness and accuracy.
Board Explains Evaluation Safeguards
CBSE further noted that it had earlier corrected a typographical mistake related to a social media communication concerning the portal link. Officials reiterated that there had been no breach affecting the integrity of the board examination results.
The board also highlighted the scale of post-result activities this year. According to CBSE data, more than four lakh applications were submitted by students seeking scanned copies of answer books. In addition, around 11.3 lakh answer sheets were requested under various review and re-evaluation procedures.
To strengthen the verification process and ensure smooth handling of rechecking requests, CBSE said experts from IIT Madras and IIT Kanpur have been involved in supporting technical and procedural operations.
Growing Pressure Over Examination Concerns
The controversy has emerged at a time when the board is already facing criticism over technical glitches reported by students during post-result services. Several students and parents had earlier complained about delays, portal access issues, and discrepancies noticed in evaluated answer sheets.
While the board maintains that its systems remain secure and transparent, opposition parties continue to demand greater accountability and an independent review of the entire evaluation mechanism. The issue has now turned into a broader political debate concerning examination reforms, digital assessment security, and trust in academic institutions.