CBSE OSM row revives questions over firm linked to Telangana’s 2019 Intermediate results controversy

The Central Board of Secondary Education’s (CBSE) Online Screening and Marking (OSM) system for Class XII answer-sheet evaluation has sparked renewed controversy, linking it to Telangana’s 2019 Intermediate exam results scandal. Coempt Edu Tech, the firm handling the OSM platform, is the rebranded version of Globarena Technologies, which was involved in Telangana’s digitized exam process that faced widespread criticism after irregularities in result processing. Students, parents, and teachers have raised concerns over technical glitches in the OSM system, including portal crashes and blurred answer sheet scans. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi highlighted the firm’s controversial past, questioning why no background check was conducted despite its role in Telangana’s 2019 crisis. The CEO of Coempt Edu Tech, V.S.N. Raju, previously led Globarena Technologies and claimed extensive dry runs were conducted before adopting the OSM platform, though reports suggest otherwise. In 2019, Telangana’s Intermediate exam results faced backlash after thousands of students were marked absent or failed unexpectedly, triggering protests and even suicides. A government-appointed committee found that Globarena Technologies had failed to complete required software modules on time and lacked adequate testing, leading to errors in result processing. The committee criticized the agency’s overall work experience and design flaws in the software. The CBSE’s OSM system has faced similar accusations of rushed implementation without proper testing, raising concerns about its reliability. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has taken responsibility for the discrepancies and assured strict action against those found guilty. The parallels between the two incidents have intensified calls for accountability and transparency in exam evaluation processes.