Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan defended the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) against allegations made by Rahul Gandhi regarding discrepancies in the board's examination processes, particularly concerning the On-Screen Marking (OSM) controversy. Pradhan asserted that the CBSE had clarified its procurement process, which complied with Government of India standards. He criticized Gandhi for appearing frustrated due to electoral losses and for opposing key government initiatives, including the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) program and Digital India. Pradhan urged political leaders to refrain from statements that could exacerbate student anxiety during this stressful period. The dispute intensified after Gandhi accused the CBSE of “massive tampering” in exam results and questioned the awarding of contracts to COEMPT Edutech, citing concerns over the company's past controversies and its alleged ties to the BJP. In response, Gandhi insisted that a mere denial from the CBSE was insufficient and demanded answers to his inquiries, emphasizing that the 18.5 lakh students affected deserve transparency.