New Delhi: The Centre has transferred CBSE Chairperson Rahul Singh and Secretary Himanshu Gupta amid the growing controversy surrounding the Board’s On-Screen Marking (OSM) system. The government has also ordered a formal inquiry into the procurement process of the digital evaluation platform, marking a significant escalation in its response to the issue.
The OSM system was introduced to digitise the evaluation of answer sheets and improve efficiency in the examination process. However, questions were recently raised over the manner in which the contract for the service was awarded and whether the procurement process was carried out transparently.
The controversy gained political attention after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged irregularities in the awarding of the contract and questioned changes made to tender conditions. CBSE strongly rejected those allegations, calling them misleading and maintaining that all procedures were followed properly. Despite the Board’s defence, concerns continued to grow, prompting closer scrutiny of the system and its implementation.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had earlier acknowledged issues related to the OSM rollout and assured students and parents that corrective measures would be taken. He also stated that accountability would be fixed if any wrongdoing was found.
With the transfer of the Board’s two top officials and the launch of an inquiry panel, the government has signalled that it intends to examine the matter thoroughly. The investigation is expected to focus on how the contract was awarded and whether established norms were followed during the procurement process.
The developments come at a sensitive time for CBSE, which oversees examinations for millions of students across the country. The outcome of the inquiry could have a significant impact on the future of digital evaluation systems in India’s school education sector.
