The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has undergone a significant leadership change, with senior IAS officer Lokhande Prashant Sitaram appointed as the new Chairperson, replacing Rahul Singh. Concurrently, Varun Bhardwaj has been named the board's new Secretary, succeeding Himanshu Gupta.
These high-level appointments come on the heels of the government initiating a one-member inquiry into the procurement and operational issues surrounding CBSE's On-Screen Marking (OSM) system. The simultaneous nature of the leadership reshuffle and the announcement of a government probe has brought the board's digital evaluation practices under intense scrutiny, making it a focal point in recent education policy discussions.
New Leadership at the Helm
Lokhande Prashant Sitaram, a 2001-batch AGMUT cadre IAS officer, previously served as Additional Secretary in the Department of Home under the Ministry of Home Affairs. His predecessor, Rahul Singh, a 1996-batch Bihar cadre officer, has been transferred to the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare as Additional Secretary.
Varun Bhardwaj, a 2008-batch Indian Information Service officer, was formerly Director in the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education. He will serve as Secretary until September 19, 2027, under the Central Staffing Scheme.
Outgoing Secretary's Premature Return
The departure of Himanshu Gupta, the outgoing Secretary and a 2012-batch AGMUT cadre IAS officer, is particularly notable. He has been prematurely returned to his parent cadre, the Ministry of Home Affairs, on what the Personnel Ministry described as "administrative grounds." Furthermore, an "extended cooling-off" condition has been imposed, barring him from another central deputation until December 12, 2030.
Inquiry into On-Screen Marking System
The government has established a one-member inquiry committee, headed by S Radha Chauhan, Chairperson of the Capacity Building Commission. This committee is tasked with examining all matters related to the procurement of services for the OSM system and is expected to submit its findings within one month.
The controversy surrounding the OSM system escalated following the declaration of CBSE Class 12 results. Students and parents lodged numerous complaints regarding technical glitches, payment-related issues, and significant delays in verification and re-evaluation results. Most critically, allegations surfaced that scanned answer sheets provided by the board did not match students' own handwriting, raising serious concerns about potential mismatches during the digital evaluation process. CBSE has acknowledged discrepancies in at least two such cases and has committed to revising marks accordingly.
Political Reactions and Ongoing Scrutiny
The reshuffle has drawn sharp political criticism. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi questioned the accountability framework, stating on X,
"CBSE Chairman - Transferred. CBSE Secretary - Transferred. A one-member 'inquiry' committee - Formed. And the real culprit, Dharmendra Pradhan - Safe. Officials removed. Minister spared. This isn't accountability - it's a cover-up."
While the government has not explicitly linked the transfers to the ongoing OSM controversy, the simultaneous events—a leadership overhaul, a formal probe, and demands for ministerial accountability—ensure that scrutiny of CBSE's digital evaluation system will continue intensely until the inquiry committee's report is delivered.