The Congress party has intensified its attack on the government over the CBSE OSM controversy, demanding accountability and the resignation of the education minister. As reported by multiple sources, Congress has raised questions after a fire at the Education Ministry's Delhi office, while authorities say the blaze was controlled and the cause remains unknown. The political pressure comes as the CBSE's newly introduced On-Screen Marking (OSM) system continues to face multiple complaints over answer-sheet mismatches, missing pages, scanning errors, portal glitches and evaluation discrepancies. The Board is also examining cybersecurity-related allegations, adding to the mounting controversy surrounding the assessment system.
According to Shantanu Rooj, founder and CEO of TeamLease EdTech, employers may face significant additional costs due to assessment system reliability concerns. As reported by Business Standard, Rooj estimates that for every 10,000 applicants, even an additional ₹300-700 per candidate for testing, assessment administration and re-screening can result in ₹30-70 lakh extra in hiring-stage costs before training begins. This represents a substantial increase in recruitment expenses for companies already dealing with operational challenges.
As reported by Business Standard, employers may be forced to introduce additional screening layers including aptitude tests, communication evaluation, AI and digital-readiness checks, and proctored assessments to validate candidates. Madan Sabnavis, chief economist at Bank of Baroda, highlighted that these systems cover the full country and cannot be ignored anymore. The enhanced verification process could increase recruiter workload, delay joining timelines, raise rejection rates after selection, and lengthen onboarding cycles, creating operational burdens for large employers.
According to reports from Business Standard, the CBSE's newly introduced On-Screen Marking (OSM) system is facing multiple complaints over answer-sheet mismatches, missing pages, scanning errors, portal glitches and evaluation discrepancies. The Board has activated its re-evaluation facility after a day's delay, introduced Aadhaar verification and said the portal faced multiple cyberattack attempts. Separately, NEET continues to face scrutiny following paper leak allegations, litigation and demands for reforms in examination administration and oversight. These multiple controversies are creating uncertainty across India's high-stakes examination ecosystem.
As reported by Business Standard, Amrita Dutta, principal at Odgers, warned that assessment system failures could distort meritocratic outcomes by depriving deserving students of opportunities while enabling less meritorious candidates to advance. Anil Ethanur, co-founder of Xpheno, noted that university scores, certifications and qualifications are generally the main filters used by employers, making any errors in the examination system particularly impactful. The concerns come amid growing psychological pressure on students, with Dutta cautioning that systemic failures may cause NEET preparation to begin in middle years, risking further burnout and creating a loss of vital human capital.
