Rahul Gandhi Criticises Government Over CBSE Answer Sheet Scanning Issues

Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, intensified his critiques of the Indian government regarding the On-Screen Marking (OSM) controversy associated with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). During a recent interaction with affected students, he labelled the situation a 'fraud,' attributing the irregularities to changes in the tender conditions surrounding the scanning process.

The controversy emerged after Class 12 student Vedant alleged that an uploaded Physics answer sheet during the revaluation did not belong to him. Following this claim, other students reported similar discrepancies, leading to a broader dialogue about potential issues within the CBSE's examination processes.

In his post on social media platform X, Mr. Gandhi detailed claims that the initial tender requirements specified high-resolution scans using robotic technology and preserved answer sheet spines, which were later altered without adequate justification. According to him, the reissued tender allowed for lesser standards, permitting the selection of the vendor COEMPT for the scanning process.

'Blurred copies, the missing pages, and unscanned books are not mere errors. They are the predictable outcome of a contract designed to favour a vendor. This is fraud,' he stated. He further highlighted, 'Every child whose marks were incorrectly evaluated is a victim of this.'

The opposition leader also took aim at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, criticising him for focusing on trivial matters while neglecting the concerns of approximately 18.5 lakh students affected by the alleged scanning irregularities.

Mr. Gandhi characterised the reaction from government officials as dismissive and likened the treatment of students raising concerns to being labelled as 'anti-nationals.' In his remarks during the student meeting, he empathised with their plight, stating, 'You are students. You are asking for your answer sheets. Now, suddenly, you have become anti-nationals.'

The company at the centre of the controversy, COEMPT, also known as Globarena, has faced scrutiny for its past in Telangana. In light of recent developments, Gandhi has called for an independent judicial investigation and a special task force inquiry into the entire affair, questioning the rationale behind awarding the contract to COEMPT.

Congress communications chief Jairam Ramesh later highlighted an additional concern by claiming that nearly two million students' answer sheets were exposed in the public domain due to a massive data breach, describing the issue as one of 'monumental proportions,' which he said jeopardised student privacy.

Ramesh's online post underlined the apparent inadequacies in the scanned answer sheets, which he asserted exhibited characteristics typically associated with mobile-phone scans.

As tensions escalate, the Congress party has also sought the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, along with demands for a thorough investigation into the alleged discrepancies in the CBSE process.

The unfolding situation raises critical questions regarding accountability and the integrity of educational assessments in India, particularly as students seek clarity and justice in their examination results.