Did CBSE Check COEMPT's Globarena Ties? Parliamentary Panel Seeks Answers On OSM Contract Award
A parliamentary committee led by Rajya Sabha member Digvijaya Singh has questioned the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) about its awareness of COEMPT EduTeck’s past ties to Globarena Technologies, whose software was criticized in the 2019 Telangana Intermediate results scandal. The panel also sought clarification on changes in the OSM contract’s RFP, including removed disqualification clauses for poor performance and reduced technical requirements like scanning resolution and data center stipulations.
A parliamentary committee is scrutinizing the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) over its award of the On-Screen Marking System (OSM) contract to COEMPT EduTeck. The committee, chaired by Rajya Sabha member Digvijaya Singh, has asked CBSE whether it was aware that COEMPT and its directors had prior associations with Globarena Technologies, whose evaluation software faced criticism in the 2019 Telangana Intermediate results inquiry. The panel has demanded written responses from CBSE by June 8, addressing discrepancies in the Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for the OSM system. Key concerns include the removal of a clause disqualifying bidders with a history of poor performance and changes favoring contractors using Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)-empowered data centers instead of their own. The committee also questioned why CBSE lowered the minimum scanning resolution from 300 DPI to 200 DPI and dropped requirements for contractors to scan answer sheets without cutting the spine. Additionally, the panel asked why the experience criterion—handling projects involving at least 5 lakh students—was replaced with cumulative answer-book volume across multiple projects. CBSE has not yet shared documents related to the February 2025, May 2025, and August 2025 RFPs, despite earlier requests. The panel also sought details on the action taken following the observers’ report from the OSM dry run and whether CBSE shared or discussed this report with the Ministry of Education.
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