Investigation Launched into Alleged Illegal Deal Between British Council and Nepal’s Orbit Medical

Kathmandu — Authorities linked to the global IELTS testing system have launched an investigation into an alleged illegal agreement between British Council Services Nepal Pvt. Ltd. and Orbit Medical Entrance Pvt. Ltd., a Nepal-based education preparation company.

The probe is being conducted by Cambridge English, part of the University of Cambridge responsible for IELTS examinations, along with the British Council’s South Asia regional counter-fraud office, following allegations of irregular financial arrangements tied to student exam registrations.

The investigation comes after inquiries raised by the Nepal-based media outlet Motivate News, which reported potential misconduct involving exam booking commissions and rising IELTS test fees in Nepal.

Commission-Based Exam Bookings

According to documents reviewed by Motivate News, British Council Services Nepal — a company registered in Nepal in March 2023 — allegedly entered into an arrangement with Orbit Medical Entrance Pvt. Ltd., an institution that provides preparation courses for students seeking admission to medical schools abroad.

Under the arrangement, Orbit reportedly facilitated IELTS exam registrations by recommending students to the British Council. In return, the Council allegedly paid Orbit commissions ranging from 3,500 Nepali rupees to 12,500 rupees (approximately $26–$94) per student.

Students in Nepal currently pay 36,200 rupees for the paper-based IELTS exam and 33,000 rupees for the computer-based version. Sources familiar with the arrangement say a portion of those fees was returned to Orbit as commission payments.

Orbit is then alleged to retain part of the commission while distributing the remaining amount to educational consultancies that supply students for the exam.

Concerns Over Fee Increases

Critics say the commission-based arrangement may have contributed to the repeated increases in IELTS examination fees in Nepal.

The test fee rose from 31,200 rupees to 36,200 rupees last year, an increase of roughly 16 percent. Shortly after the British Council’s price adjustment, its main competitor in the IELTS testing market, IDP Education, also raised its test fees.

Industry insiders claim the price hikes were partly designed to accommodate the commissions paid to Orbit.

Cambridge English is now examining whether the arrangement violated policies governing the administration of the globally recognized English language test.

Orbit’s Role in the Education Consultancy Network

Founded in 2011, Orbit Medical Entrance Pvt. Ltd. was originally established to provide preparation courses for students seeking admission to medical schools.

However, the company has faced controversy in recent years over allegations related toInvestigation Launched into Alleged Illegal Deal Between British Council and Nepal’s Orbit Medical

Following investigative reporting by Motivate News, several Australian universities reportedly began rejecting financial documents issued through banks associated with Orbit, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The company also allegedly acts as an intermediary for IELTS exam bookings. Sources say Orbit collects passport information from more than 1,500 educational consultancies across Nepal, secures exam dates for their students, and submits the bookings to the British Council.

Direct Bookings vs Consultancy Bookings

The alleged commission system has created a striking pricing disparity for students.

Students who book IELTS tests directly through official channels must pay the full exam fee. But those registering through consultancies linked to Orbit reportedly pay between 22,000 and 29,000 rupees, effectively receiving discounted access to the same exam.

Education sector observers say the practice disadvantages students who attempt to register independently.

Financial Scale of the Arrangement

Audit documents reviewed by Motivate News indicate that the financial relationship between the two organizations may be substantial.

In the 2024/25 fiscal year, Orbit reportedly paid 84.9 million rupees to the British Council for IELTS exam fees. The Council allegedly returned 29.3 million rupees to Orbit as commission — roughly 35 percent of the total amount.

The audit records also show that Orbit received:

• 45.8 million rupees in commissions in fiscal year 2023/24, and 124 million rupees in fiscal year 2022/23.

The figures suggest a rapidly expanding financial relationship between the two entities.

Discount Campaigns Target Students

Orbit and associated consultancies frequently promote IELTS “discount offers” targeting students who have recently completed their Grade 12 examinations.

Promotions advertised during major festivals such as Holi claim discounts of up to 7,000 rupees, while some campaigns reportedly offer reductions as high as 12,500 rupees.

While some consultancies pass these discounts directly to students, others reportedly retain the amount as profit.

Questions Over Legality

The legality of the arrangement has also come under scrutiny. The British Council operates as a UK-based charitable organization, and companies operating under such institutions are typically restricted from entering commercial arrangements with private firms without formal approval.

Experts say any such partnership would require authorization from the British Council’s governing board in the United Kingdom — approval that has not been publicly confirmed in this case.

Investigation Triggered by Media Inquiry

The investigation began after Motivate News submitted a series of questions to British Council Services Nepal regarding exam fees, commission structures, and regulatory approvals. The email inquiry was also copied to Cambridge English, which subsequently initiated a review.

In an email response dated February 26, Camila Marciniak, Senior Helpdesk Analyst at Cambridge English, confirmed that the complaint had been forwarded to the British Council for investigation. “Your complaint has been shared with the British Council team for investigation. As this is a confidential process, we are unable to provide further updates on the progress,” she wrote.

Earlier communications on the matter had been handled by Cambridge English senior advisors.

British Council Says Action Taken

Following the Cambridge review, the British Council’s South Asia regional counter-fraud office also examined the allegations.

In an email sent to Motivate News on March 10, Aditya Singh Bishnoi, manager of the regional counter-fraud unit, said the organization had taken action after reviewing the information.“We have reviewed the information you provided and taken appropriate action,” Bishnoi wrote. “To protect the confidentiality of all parties, we are unable to provide further details. We take allegations of fraud, theft and corruption seriously and encourage reporting.”