Centre Orders Probe Into CBSE On-Screen Marking System; Top Officials Transferred Amid Growing Controversy

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The controversy surrounding the Central Board of Secondary Education’s On-Screen Marking (OSM) system took a dramatic turn on Tuesday after the Union Government ordered a formal inquiry into the procurement of services linked to the digital evaluation platform. The decision comes at a time when questions are being raised not only about the tendering process behind the system but also about the credibility of the evaluation mechanism itself.

In an official move that signals the seriousness with which the government is viewing the issue, a one-member inquiry committee has been constituted to examine all matters related to the procurement process. The committee will be headed by S. Radha Chauhan, Chairperson of the Capacity Building Commission, and has been given the authority to seek assistance from officers across departments whenever required. According to the government’s directive, the committee is expected to submit its findings to the Department of Personnel and Training within one month.

The decision did not come in isolation. It followed a series of developments that have steadily intensified public scrutiny of the examination board over the past few weeks. At the centre of the latest developments is 17-year-old Jharkhand student Sarthak Sidhant, whose efforts have brought the issue into the national spotlight.

On Tuesday, Sidhant appeared before the Parliamentary Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports and presented a detailed account of what he claims were irregularities in the selection of vendors responsible for implementing the online marking system. Armed with a seven-page report, the student laid out his findings before lawmakers, drawing attention to concerns that many students and parents had been voicing online.

Sources familiar with the meeting said members of the committee listened carefully to the presentation and sought responses from CBSE officials who were present. The panel, chaired by senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh, reportedly examined the allegations closely and asked questions regarding the procedures followed during the procurement process.

The fact that a school student found himself addressing a parliamentary panel on issues concerning one of India’s most important educational institutions has itself become a major talking point. Education experts say the development reflects growing concerns among students about transparency and accountability in examination systems that increasingly rely on technology.

Adding further intrigue to the situation was the government’s decision to transfer CBSE Chairman Rahul Singh and Secretary Himanshu Gupta. Both officials were present during the parliamentary proceedings when the allegations were discussed. Although no official statement has directly linked their transfers to the ongoing controversy, the timing has inevitably fueled speculation.

The controversy over the On-Screen Marking System extends beyond procurement questions. Over recent months, a number of students have alleged that the answer scripts made available to them during review processes appeared blurred, incomplete, or inconsistent with what they had originally submitted. While the board has maintained that the digital evaluation system was introduced to improve efficiency and transparency, these complaints have triggered a wider debate over the reliability of technology-driven assessment methods.

Parents and education activists argue that any error in the evaluation process can have serious consequences for students whose academic futures often depend on examination results. For many families, the issue is not merely administrative but deeply personal. Competitive admissions, scholarship opportunities, and career prospects can all be affected by examination outcomes, making trust in the evaluation system essential.

The board has also found itself facing criticism on another front. Reports recently emerged claiming that CBSE had circulated social media toolkits to principals of affiliated schools. According to those reports, schools were encouraged to create promotional content, including short videos and social media posts highlighting the advantages of the board’s On-Screen Marking System. Critics questioned whether an educational institution should be actively promoting a system that was already facing public scrutiny and unresolved complaints.

The combination of procurement-related allegations, evaluation concerns, parliamentary attention, and the transfer of senior officials has transformed what initially appeared to be a technical dispute into a matter of national discussion. Opposition leaders, student organizations, and education activists have all called for greater transparency regarding how the system was implemented and whether proper procedures were followed during vendor selection.

The inquiry committee now faces the challenging task of examining procurement records, reviewing administrative decisions, and determining whether any lapses occurred. Its findings are expected to be closely watched by policymakers, educators, students, and parents across the country.

The outcome could have implications far beyond the CBSE itself. Over the last decade, education boards and institutions have increasingly adopted digital technologies to streamline examinations and evaluations. If the inquiry uncovers procedural shortcomings or implementation failures, it may prompt a broader review of how technology-based assessment systems are introduced and monitored in India’s education sector.

For now, many questions remain unanswered. What began as complaints about answer scripts has evolved into a debate over governance, accountability, and transparency within one of India’s most influential educational bodies. As the newly appointed committee begins its work, stakeholders across the education landscape will be waiting for answers that could shape the future of digital examination evaluation in the country.