Regarding the CBSE controversy, the Education Ministry has finally started action against the company which was allotted the tender. A report has been sought from CBSE on awarding the contract to COEMPT. Details of the tender process have been collected, strict action will be recommended against the officials found responsible. Let us tell you that the Ministry of Education has given the report of awarding the contract to COEMPT for free. The ministry has said that strict action will be taken against the officer going to the final stage. Under the final contract, the seller may face heavy financial penalties and contract termination, but cannot be blacklisted.
Know what will happen next
- The contract stipulates a penalty of Rs 1 lakh for every 15 minutes of delay in resolution of serious issues identified by CBSE.
- A fine of Rs 1 lakh is applicable for every 60 minutes of delay for failure to submit root cause analysis and corrective action plan.
- The agreement also gives CBSE the right to confiscate the security deposit and terminate the contract in serious cases.
- CBSE had given the contract for its digital scanning and on-screen assessment (OSM) system to Hyderabad-based company Coempt Edu Teck. This company is handling the work of scanning and digital checking of lakhs of answer sheets.
- This matter came into discussion after questions were raised regarding the OSM system. There are allegations that there were problems like risk of information being exposed in the system, security related deficiencies and negligence in functioning.
- According to the documents related to the tender, there was a provision for strict action in the initial tender issued on 28 August 2025.
- In case of serious violation of rules, the CBSE committee could recommend confiscation of the bank guarantee of the company, termination of the contract and blacklisting of the company. But on 20 September 2025, CBSE issued an amendment (corrigendum) and removed the provision of blacklisting from the tender.
- Although provisions like financial penalty, confiscation of deposits and termination of contracts remain as before, blacklisting is no longer an option.
- After this, this contract was officially awarded to Coempt Edu Teck on 5 December 2025.
According to the recent contract, CBSE cannot blacklist CEOMPT… a maximum fine of Rs 1 lakh can be imposed for different mistakes.
Provision for blacklisting was included in CBSE’s August 2025 tender.
* According to the tender, in case of serious negligence, the CBSE committee could issue a show cause notice to the company.
* In such cases, it had the right to confiscate the Performance Bank Guarantee (PBG), blacklist the company and terminate the contract.
* There was also a provision for confiscation of security deposit, blacklisting and termination of contract in case of repeated violation of rules.
* But the provision of blacklisting was removed through a corrigendum issued in September 2025.
* After this, CBSE kept the rights to impose financial penalty, confiscate security deposit and terminate the contract, but removed the right to blacklist.
