Rahul Gandhi questions Coempt Edutech’s role in CBSE OSM system
Telangana-based Compete Edu tech under spotlight as CBSE-OSM controversy deepens
A Hyderabad-based technology company, Compete EdTech Pvt Ltd, has landed at the center of a growing political and educational controversy surrounding CBSE’s On-Screen Marking (OSM) system for Class 12 board examinations.
The firm came into sharp focus after Congress MP Rahul Gandhi questioned why CBSE awarded the digital evaluation
contract to a company allegedly linked to past examination controversies in Telangana. The issue has now snowballed
into a national debate over transparency, digital evaluation systems, and accountability in public examinations.
Why Compete Edu tech is being questioned
Rahul Gandhi alleged that Compete EdTech — formerly known as Glob arena Technology Pvt Ltd — had earlier faced scrutiny during the Telangana Intermediate Board results controversy and other digital evaluation projects.
According to the Congress leader, despite previous concerns surrounding the company, it was entrusted with handling CBSE’s large-scale OSM evaluation system involving nearly 18.5 lakh students.
He accused the board of failing to conduct proper background checks and demanded:
A judicial inquiry:
- An SIT investigation
- Transparency in the tender process
- Clarification on the company’s selection
Gandhi also claimed that irregularities linked to digital evaluation systems had previously triggered serious student distress in Telangana.
What triggered the latest row
The controversy erupted after several CBSE students reported issues related to:
- Blurred answer-sheet scans
- Missing pages
- Incorrect answer-sheet uploads
- Portal glitches during re-evaluation and verification
- Alleged mismatches in uploaded copies
One case drew national attention after a student claimed the answer sheet displayed online did not belong to him. The incident intensified criticism of the OSM process and raised concerns about the reliability of the digital evaluation infrastructure.
CBSE rejects allegations
CBSE has strongly denied all allegations linked to the OSM system and Compete EdTech.
The board stated that:
- The tender process followed General Financial Rules (GFR)
- The Request for Proposal (RFP) was publicly floated in August 2025
- The contract was awarded through a proper bidding mechanism
- The evaluation portal remains secure
CBSE termed the allegations “misleading” and insisted that the integrity of the examination process had not been compromised.
Cybersecurity and conflict-of-interest concerns emerge
The issue widened further after reports surfaced that cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the OSM portal had allegedly been flagged months before the controversy exploded publicly.
A young ethical hacker claimed he had warned authorities, including CERT-In, regarding technical vulnerabilities in the system. Questions were also raised online about possible links between academic experts reviewing the issue and individuals allegedly associated with the company.
Although no official wrongdoing has been established, the allegations have intensified political attacks and public scrutiny.
Telangana link fuels political storm
The company’s earlier association with controversies linked to Telangana Intermediate examination results has become a major talking point in the ongoing political clash.
Opposition leaders argue that lessons from previous digital evaluation disputes were ignored, while the government and CBSE maintain that all due procedures were followed before awarding the contract.
The controversy has reignited concerns over:
- Digital exam infrastructure
- Student mental health
- Data security
- Transparency in public education contracts
- Accountability in large-scale examinations
Latest developments
- Compete EdTech has become the central focus of the CBSE-OSM row after Rahul Gandhi publicly named the company.
- CBSE has officially defended the contract process and denied allegations of tampering.
- Opposition parties are demanding independent investigations into the evaluation system.
- Concerns over cybersecurity and technical glitches continue to trend on social media.
- Experts believe the controversy could force a nationwide review of digital board-evaluation mechanisms.
