In a bold move that has captured national attention, Sarthak Sidhant, a 17-year-old class XII student, recently testified before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education regarding major irregularities in the Central Board of Secondary Education’s (CBSE) "On-screen marking" (OSM) system. Sidhant, who conducted his own research using documents from the Central Public Procurement portal, alleged that tender criteria were suspiciously altered to favor specific vendors, such as Hyderabad-based Coempt Edu Tech, over established competitors like TCS. His investigation revealed that critical clauses regarding past performance and technical eligibility were removed, sparking widespread concerns about the integrity of this year’s digital evaluation process.

The fallout from these revelations has been swift, with the Indian government transferring top CBSE officials, including chairman Rahul Singh and secretary Himanshu Gupta, and ordering an official inquiry into the matter. While the CBSE originally introduced the OSM system to improve efficiency and reduce manual errors, the student’s findings—supported by data from ethical hackers and investigative journalists—have fueled calls from opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, for an independent judicial probe. As the Parliamentary committee reviews the evidence, Sidhant’s efforts have highlighted a significant push for accountability, showcasing a young generation determined to uncover the truth behind institutional failures.