Congress Calls for Resignation Over CBSE On Screen Marking Controversy

Congress has sharply criticized the Modi government over the compromised CBSE On Screen Marking (OSM) system. Alleging government-backed attempts to protect contractor COEMPT, they demanded Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation. Problems with mismatched answer sheets have affected many students, prompting an expert review to strengthen the system.

The Congress party has intensified its criticism of the Modi administration following revelations about cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the CBSE's On Screen Marking (OSM) system. Party representatives insist that such lapses show a failure in maintaining ethical standards and have called for Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation as Education Minister.

Jairam Ramesh, a leading Congress figure, shared evidence of the system's failings, questioning why the CBSE had not acted against its contractor, COEMPT. While the education board claimed action would be prioritized, Ramesh highlighted that CBSE removed its authority to blacklist ineffective vendors, raising concerns about possible favoritism.

The system's failures have deeply impacted many students. Several discovered errors in the uploaded answer sheets during re-evaluation, which led to distress. While the CBSE has tried to address these concerns, experts from institutions like IIT-Madras and IIT-Kanpur are now involved to improve portal stability and security.

Long-standing concerns about COEMPT, previously known as Globarena, add another layer of complexity. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticized the commercial approach to education, implying that profit motives can exacerbate errors rather than resolve them. With mounting issues, the demand for stronger oversight and accountability continues to grow.