The Central Board of Secondary Education defended its on-screen marking system after a drop in the Class 12 pass percentage sparked controversy [1, 2].
The dispute centers on whether a shift in evaluation methods unfairly penalized students. Because board exam results dictate university admissions and career paths in India, any perceived instability in grading creates significant anxiety for millions of families.
Data shows the pass percentage for Class 12 fell to 85% in 2026 [2]. This is a decrease from the 88% pass rate recorded in 2025 [2]. The decline led students and parents to allege that the on-screen marking process, where examiners grade digital copies of answer sheets, was responsible for the lower marks [1, 2].
However, the Ministry of Education clarified that the technology is not a recent addition. Sanjay Kumar, Secretary of the Ministry of Education, said, "On-screen marking is not new; it was first introduced in 2014 and was re-implemented this year" [1].
While some reports suggested digital evaluation was used for the first time this year, the board maintains the system is established [1, 3]. The scale of the evaluation is massive, with over 18 lakh students expected to check their results [3].
CBSE officials said that the drop in percentages is not due to the evaluation method. The board continues to stand by the integrity of the digital process, a system intended to streamline grading and reduce manual errors, despite the public outcry over the 3% dip in success rates [1, 2].
“"On-screen marking is not new; it was first introduced in 2014 and was re-implemented this year."”
The friction between CBSE and students highlights a growing trust gap in the transition toward digital governance in Indian education. While the board views on-screen marking as an efficiency tool, the correlation between its re-implementation and a lower pass rate creates a perception of systemic bias. This controversy may pressure the board to provide more transparent auditing of digital marks to maintain institutional credibility.
