Who is Sarthak Sidhant? Class 12 Student Sparks National Debate Over CBSE Tender Process

A Class 12 student from Ranchi has emerged at the centre of a nationwide debate over the transparency of the Central Board of Secondary Education's digital evaluation system. Sarthak Sidhant gained national attention after publishing a detailed blog examining CBSE's On-Screen Marking (OSM) system and the tendering process associated with the digital evaluation of Class 12 answer sheets.

 

While most students his age are focused on board examinations and college admissions, Sarthak's investigation into official procurement records has drawn the attention of policymakers, education experts and political leaders. His findings have triggered questions about the manner in which contracts related to the digital assessment system were awarded.

 

According to reports, Sarthak's interest in the issue began after he appeared for his Class 12 examinations and sought scanned copies of his answer sheets. Upon reviewing them, he noticed discrepancies in the marking process. As concerns regarding transparency in digital evaluation surfaced among students, he started examining publicly available CBSE procurement and tender documents.

 

Through a comparative analysis of different versions of the tender documents, Sarthak claimed to have identified several modifications in eligibility criteria, performance conditions and certification requirements across successive bidding rounds. He argued that these changes raised important questions about the procurement process and the implementation of the OSM system.

 

His research, based on official records available on public procurement portals, was reportedly supported by technical analysis and consultations with researchers and journalists. The blog quickly gained traction on social media and was widely circulated by opposition leaders.

 

Among those who amplified his findings was Rahul Gandhi, who questioned the government's handling of the matter and called for greater accountability. The issue gained further prominence as the CBSE's digital evaluation system was already facing scrutiny from various quarters.

 

Sarthak has also presented his findings before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, where he raised concerns about the evaluation mechanism and tendering procedures linked to the OSM system.

 

His work has highlighted how a student-led inquiry into public documents can spark a broader discussion on transparency, accountability and governance in India's education system.