New Delhi – The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has come forward to defend its recently implemented On-Screen Marking (OSM) system for the 2026 Class 12 board examinations, following a wave of student grievances and public scrutiny. Officials emphatically clarified that artificial intelligence (AI) was not utilized in the evaluation process.
CBSE Addresses Evaluation Concerns
Amid allegations of low marks, unchecked answers, and various discrepancies, CBSE announced a new multi-stage post-result review mechanism to address student concerns. School Education and Literacy Secretary Sanjay Kumar emphasized that student welfare remains the board's paramount focus.
The board stated that the digital evaluation system was introduced to enhance transparency, consistency, and efficiency in assessment. While acknowledging the massive scale of the examination, involving nearly 1.25 crore answer sheets this year, officials admitted that isolated errors could occur.
Multi-Stage Review Process Details
To ensure fairness, CBSE has outlined a comprehensive review process:
- Access to Answer Sheets: Students can apply for scanned copies of their evaluated answer sheets from May 19 to May 22.
- Verification of Marks: Requests for verification of marks will be accepted between May 26 and May 29.
- Re-evaluation: Applications for re-evaluation of specific answers can also be submitted during the May 26-29 window.
A fee of Rs 100 will be charged for each request, which will be refunded if a student's marks increase after the review. CBSE officials urged students not to panic, reiterating that their well-being is the top priority.
System Implementation and Future
CBSE confirmed that nearly 98.66 lakh answer sheets were evaluated, with around 13,000 copies undergoing re-evaluation based on initial complaints. Evaluators underwent rigorous training using previous years' papers and marking patterns, with each answer assessed individually under the digital system to ensure standardization.
Officials explained that the On-Screen Marking system was not introduced earlier due to a lack of necessary software and scanning infrastructure in 2014. They also clarified that fluctuations in pass percentages cannot be solely attributed to the digital system, as question papers vary annually and regional performance trends have remained consistent.
Despite initial glitches during its dry run in January and subsequent full-scale rollout, CBSE stated these issues were stabilized. The board asserted that the OSM system would continue for future examinations, anticipating it will lead to more accurate and timely results. The core assessment framework, officials noted, has not changed; only the method of standardization has been refined.