EducationNews – Rahul Gandhi Questions CBSE Tender Process Amid Evaluation Concerns
EducationNews – Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday intensified his criticism of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) over issues linked to the implementation of its on-screen marking system for Class 12 examinations. He alleged that key standards were gradually relaxed during the tender process, ultimately allowing a company named COEMPT to secure the contract. Gandhi also targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, claiming that the government’s response to concerns raised by students and teachers had been inadequate.
Gandhi Raises Questions Over Tender Changes
In a statement shared on social media platform X, Gandhi said he had consistently demanded an independent judicial investigation into the selection process for the on-screen marking project. According to him, students and parents deserve a clear explanation regarding how the contract was awarded and whether the process was conducted fairly.
Referring to media reports, he claimed that the CBSE had issued multiple tenders before finalizing the contract. He alleged that the eligibility requirements were modified over time, including changes to technical benchmarks and quality standards. Gandhi argued that these revisions appeared to make it easier for COEMPT to qualify for the project.
Concerns Over Evaluation System Performance
The Congress leader further pointed to complaints reportedly received from students regarding the functioning of the new evaluation system. These concerns included poorly scanned answer sheets, missing pages, and technical difficulties affecting the digital assessment platform.
Gandhi said that education professionals had previously cautioned the CBSE against introducing the system nationwide without additional preparation and testing. According to him, experts had suggested that more time was needed to ensure the technology could function smoothly on a large scale. He questioned why the rollout proceeded despite such warnings.
Demand for Accountability
Continuing his criticism, Gandhi said that procedural compliance alone was not enough to address public concerns. He argued that the central issue was whether the contract had been awarded to the most capable organization available for the task.
He also reiterated his call for an independent inquiry, suggesting that the investigation should examine not only the CBSE contract but also other projects awarded to the same company. Gandhi maintained that transparency was essential because the education and future prospects of millions of students could be affected by decisions involving examination infrastructure.
Jairam Ramesh Highlights Technical Issues
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also referred to reports concerning the tender process. He alleged that several technical requirements outlined in the Request for Proposal (RFP) documents were weakened during successive stages of the bidding process.
Among the changes he cited were a reduction in scanning resolution standards, modifications to certification requirements, removal of certain safeguards intended to prevent scanning errors, and the elimination of conditions related to advanced scanning equipment. Ramesh argued that such adjustments may have reduced the overall quality benchmarks originally envisioned for the project.
Questions Over Timing and Vendor Selection
Ramesh additionally questioned the timeline followed by the CBSE. He noted that the final RFP was reportedly issued only months before the board examinations, leaving limited time for implementation and testing.
According to him, suggestions to conduct pilot projects at regional centres before a nationwide launch were not fully adopted. He asked why the board moved ahead so quickly and whether sufficient due diligence had been conducted regarding the selected vendor.
The Congress leader also sought greater public disclosure from the CBSE. He called on the board to release documents related to vendor selection, modifications made to tender conditions, reasons behind the accelerated implementation schedule, and records of meetings held before the examinations. He said that making such information available would help address concerns surrounding the on-screen marking initiative and strengthen public confidence in the examination process.