Rahul Gandhi Meets CBSE Student Vedant, Revives Debate Over Exam Evaluation Errors

The controversy surrounding the Central Board of Secondary Education's (CBSE) on-screen marking (OSM) system gained fresh political attention after Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi met Class 12 student Vedant Shrivastava, whose complaint about receiving an incorrect Physics answer sheet sparked a nationwide debate over examination evaluation processes.

In a video shared on social media, Gandhi interacted with Vedant, his brother Siddhant Shrivastava, and other students, discussing the online backlash they faced after raising concerns about the CBSE evaluation system. During the conversation, the students recounted being labelled "anti-national," "deep state agents," and even "terrorists" by some social media users. Gandhi responded with sarcasm, questioning the allegations and expressing support for the students.

The issue first came to light when Vedant posted on social media that the Physics answer sheet provided to him by CBSE under its newly introduced on-screen marking system did not match his handwriting. According to the student, the document differed significantly from his other answer sheets and personal notes. His post quickly went viral, attracting millions of views and triggering widespread discussion about the reliability of the digital evaluation process.

Following the public outcry, CBSE reviewed the complaint and informed Vedant that the correct answer sheet had been identified and shared with him. The board later updated his results accordingly.

The episode also drew attention to broader concerns regarding the implementation of the OSM system. Questions were raised about the awarding of the evaluation contract and reports of alleged answer-sheet mix-ups. Another student, Sarthak Sidhant from Jharkhand, published an independent blog examining the tender process, prompting opposition leaders to demand an independent inquiry. CBSE and the OSM contractor, Coempt Edutech, have rejected allegations of irregularities.

The controversy has emerged at a sensitive time for India's examination system. It follows the cancellation of the NEET-UG examination over a paper leak controversy and recent technical disruptions affecting CUET-UG examinations. Education experts say the incidents highlight the growing need for transparency, accountability and robust safeguards in high-stakes examinations that affect millions of students across the country.