Hyderabad firm linked to CBSE row under probe at Nagpur University

NAGPUR: Hyderabad-based private company COEMPT Edu Teck Pvt Ltd, which is at the centre of CBSE on-screen marking (OSM) controversy, is also facing allegations of marksheet blunders, exam glitches and fake documentation at Nagpur University, where more than 3.17 lakh students have been affected since the firm took over examination operations.

The company secured a three-year contract worth Rs 5 crore from Nagpur University for preliminary and post-examination work in the 2025-26 academic session. National Students' Union of India's Nagpur unit has since accused COEMPT of furnishing false documents during the bidding process, also alleging that the firm had been previously blacklisted by universities in Telangana.

Since COEMPT's appointment, winter 2025 results carried incorrect calculations, subject mismatches and errors in hall tickets. Results for more than 1,200 winter examinations faced inordinate delays; more than 300 students lodged complaints with the university, and 60% of results for major courses missed the mandated 45-day deadline.

The disruption spilled into the ongoing summer 2026 examinations. Students reported that hall tickets were not generated even 24 hours before papers, wrong subjects appeared on admit cards and the examination process was riddled with glitches.

The university was forced to conduct summer exams without issuing corrected winter marksheets. Final-year students are now stressing over application deadlines for higher education as corrections remain pending.

Affiliated colleges have flagged separate problems with COEMPT's software. "Basic addition of student exam fees is riddled with errors. Instead of Rs 96,000, the portal showed Rs 9.6 lakh as payment collected. It's just trauma for students since COEMPT took over," an examination official said.

Student protests prompted the university to serve COEMPT a legal notice and constitute a three-member inquiry panel.

A PIL is being heard by the Nagpur bench of the Bombay high court.

NSUI's Nagpur unit alleged that COEMPT previously operated under the name Globarena Technologies and used that entity's work experience to qualify for the Nagpur University tender.

Manmohan Bajpai, a university senate member heading the inquiry panel, said two hearings with COEMPT officials had taken place. "They blamed the previous agency for not handing over student data, which caused delays and blunders in marksheets. But the same problems are being encountered in summer exams too," Bajpai said.

He said hearings had been deferred until the end of summer examinations and that the vice-chancellor had asked the panel to identify any university officials who might have been complicit in the alleged irregularities.

Bajpai said the company had contested the blacklisting allegations. Ajit Singh of NSUI said the organisation has submitted evidence about COEMPT getting the contract based on Globarena's credentials.

Top Nagpur University officials said they cannot act in haste and need to wait till the Bajpai committee submits its report. "The company is under scanner and won't be spared if found guilty. The due process is being followed," they said. Singh has written to leader of the opposition Rahul Gandhi seeking his intervention in the Nagpur University case.