CBSE Removes Blacklisting Clause from OSM Tender for Digital Evaluation
What changed in CBSE’s OSM tender; why was blacklisting clause removed?
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The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has removed the blacklisting clause from its tender for the On-Screen Marking (OSM) system, which evaluates board exam papers. This change, made in September 2025, was influenced by a request from Tata Consultancy Services and has raised concerns about accountability in digital evaluation processes.
- 01The original tender issued on August 28, 2025, included strict enforcement rules, including blacklisting vendors for serious failures.
- 02The blacklisting clause was removed via a corrigendum on September 20, 2025, after a request from Tata Consultancy Services.
- 03The contract for the OSM system was awarded to Coempt Edu Teck on December 5, 2025, under revised terms without the blacklisting provision.
- 04Financial penalties are now the primary enforcement mechanism, with fixed penalties for delays and technical failures.
- 05Concerns have been raised regarding the shift from strict enforcement to a penalty-based system, particularly for handling sensitive examination data.
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In a significant alteration to its tender for the On-Screen Marking (OSM) system, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) removed the blacklisting clause that previously allowed for the exclusion of vendors in cases of serious failure. This change was made in September 2025, following a request from Tata Consultancy Services, which prompted the issuance of a corrigendum. Originally, the tender issued on August 28, 2025, included stringent enforcement measures to ensure accountability among service providers, including the ability to blacklist underperforming vendors. However, after the amendment, the CBSE retained the authority to impose financial penalties and cancel contracts, but the explicit blacklisting option was eliminated. The OSM contract was subsequently awarded to Coempt Edu Teck on December 5, 2025, under this new framework, which emphasizes financial penalties for delays and technical issues. The removal of the blacklisting clause has raised questions about the accountability measures in place for handling sensitive examination data.
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The removal of the blacklisting clause may affect the accountability of service providers in handling sensitive examination data.
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