CBSE OSM Fiasco: Officials Transferred, But the Man at the Top Remains Untouched

What began as a quiet administrative rollout has turned into one of the most damning examination controversies in recent Indian educational history, and at its centre stands a glaring, uncomfortable truth: the man most responsible has faced no consequences whatsoever.

CBSE introduced On-Screen Marking (OSM) for Class 12 board examination evaluation in 2026, positioning it as a landmark step toward enhancing transparency, accuracy and speed in the assessment process. The reality, however, proved to be starkly different. Students reported blurred answer-sheet scans, portal glitches, re-evaluation issues and serious concerns over transparency in the marking process. Several alleged that uploaded scripts did not match their handwriting, with missing pages and apparent mismatches between answer books and marks awarded. Reports suggest over four lakh students raised grievances, making it one of the largest examination-related complaint episodes in the country's history.

The controversy quickly acquired political dimensions. Rahul Gandhi questioned why Coempt Edutech was awarded the CBSE contract, alleging that the firm had earlier operated under the name Globarena and had been linked to controversies in Telangana in 2019. He demanded an independent judicial inquiry and the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) .

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan acknowledged the situation, saying, "I take responsibility. It will be fixed; a solution will be found," while assuring that "no one will be spared" if irregularities were found. Yet the minister's assurances have rung hollow. Despite personally chairing a high-level review meeting at CBSE headquarters, Pradhan defended the OSM system as a "progressive, student-centric instrument" even as lakhs of students suffered its consequences.

The government's response has followed a familiar script: shift the blame downward. The Centre transferred CBSE Chairman Rahul Singh and Secretary Himanshu Gupta and constituted a one-member inquiry committee headed by S. Radha Chauhan , Chairperson of the Capacity Building Commission, to examine issues related to the procurement of OSM services. The committee has been directed to submit its report to the Department of Personnel and Training within one month.

Two IAS officers have been shunted out. A probe committee has been formed. But the minister who presided over this fiasco, who approved the policy, defended the vendor and dismissed opposition concerns as political opportunism, sits undisturbed. CBSE's re-evaluation portal also came under cyberattack attempts as students logged in, adding fresh concerns about the robustness of the board's digital infrastructure.

Warning signs existed well before results day. The Delhi Government School Teachers' Association had urged CBSE to put the OSM system on hold, stating that the majority of teachers had not been provided structured or certified training for digital evaluation. Those warnings were ignored.

For the students whose futures hang in the balance, whose college admissions, scholarships and career paths depend on these scores, a transfer order and a one-month probe offer cold comfort. They were promised a transparent, modern system. What they got was chaos, confusion and a government more adept at managing optics than fixing accountability.