NAGPUR: Hyderabad-based private company COEMPT Edu Teck Pvt Ltd, already embroiled in the CBSE on-screen marking (OSM) controversy, is now facing fresh allegations of marksheet blunders, exam glitches, and fake documentation at Nagpur University. The firm has affected more than 3.17 lakh students since it took over examination operations.
Contract and Allegations
COEMPT secured a three-year contract worth Rs 5 crore from Nagpur University for preliminary and post-examination work in the 2025-26 academic session. However, the National Students' Union of India's (NSUI) Nagpur unit has accused the company of furnishing false documents during the bidding process. The NSUI also alleged that COEMPT had been previously blacklisted by universities in Telangana.
Examination Disruptions
Since COEMPT's appointment, the winter 2025 results have been plagued with incorrect calculations, subject mismatches, and errors in hall tickets. Results for over 1,200 winter examinations faced inordinate delays, with more than 300 students lodging complaints with the university. Furthermore, 60% of results for major courses missed the mandated 45-day deadline.
The disruption has 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 stressed over application deadlines for higher education as corrections remain pending.
Software Issues
Affiliated colleges have flagged separate problems with COEMPT's software. An examination official stated, "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."
University Response
Student protests prompted the university to serve COEMPT a legal notice and constitute a three-member inquiry panel. A public interest litigation (PIL) is being heard by the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court.
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 added that 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.
Company's Defense
Bajpai noted that the company had contested the blacklisting allegations. Ajit Singh of NSUI said the organization has submitted evidence about COEMPT obtaining the contract based on the credentials of Globarena Technologies, a name under which COEMPT previously operated.
Top Nagpur University officials said they cannot act in haste and need to wait until 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.
