The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is facing criticism over technical failures in its On-Screen Marking (OSM) system during Class 12 re-evaluations [1, 2].
These failures affect the accuracy of student grades and the transparency of the national examination process. Because these results determine university admissions, any systemic error in the digital marking process can jeopardize the academic futures of thousands of students [1, 2].
Students using the re-evaluation portal reported a variety of technical issues, including server downtime and payment failures [2]. More serious concerns emerged regarding the integrity of the scanned documents, with reports of blurred answer sheets, and mismatched uploads [1, 2]. In one reported instance from Delhi, a student was allegedly given a Pakistani label within the system [1].
These glitches have led to calls for a full scrutiny of the platform and the tendering process used to select the OSM vendor [1, 2]. Critics question the background of the provider and whether the system was sufficiently tested before being deployed for high-stakes national examinations [1].
Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan addressed the controversy by promising that the government would resolve the issues. "All discrepancies will be fixed," Pradhan said [2].
Despite the outcry from students and the reported malfunctions, the board may not abandon the technology. An Education Ministry source said the digital evaluation mechanism is likely to continue next year [3]. This suggests that the government views the OSM system as a permanent shift in infrastructure, provided the current bugs are addressed [3].
The controversy highlights the tension between the push for digital transformation in Indian education and the necessity of foolproof verification systems for student records [1, 3].
“"All discrepancies will be fixed."”
The reliance on the OSM system indicates a strategic move toward digitizing India's massive examination infrastructure to increase speed. However, the reported mismatches and technical failures suggest a gap in quality assurance during the procurement and implementation phases. If the CBSE continues using the system next year, it will need to establish a more transparent audit trail to maintain public trust in the validity of Class 12 results.
