Supreme Court Raises Concerns Over CBSE's On-Screen Marking System

Kohima, India Jul 15, 2026 ALN: The Supreme Court on Wednesday expressed concern over the difficulties being faced by students due to the Central Board of Secondary Education's (CBSE) On-Screen Marking (OSM) system for evaluation of Class 12 board examination answer sheets.

A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking supervision and regulation of the CBSE's digital evaluation mechanism and directions for remedial measures in cases of alleged irregularities.

Observing that students had been facing persistent problems under the newly introduced digital evaluation mechanism, the CJI-led Bench asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to assist the top court in resolving the issue.

The apex court said the Union government should not treat the proceedings as adversarial and stressed that it was looking for a permanent solution to the concerns raised over the evaluation process.

Appearing for the Centre, SG Mehta submitted that while most of the individual marksheet-related grievances referred to in the petition had been resolved, the government was taking the broader concerns regarding the evaluation system seriously. He informed the bench that a one-member commission headed by S. Radha Chauhan had been constituted to review the OSM mechanism and recommend reforms.

"We are not taking this adversely," SG Mehta told the top court, adding that the panel was already examining the grievances raised by students and other stakeholders.

Taking note of the submission, the Supreme Court directed the Solicitor General to place a status report on record detailing the steps taken by the government and the CBSE to address the issues.

The matter has been posted for further hearing next week on July 24.

According to the petition filed by Rakesh Binjola, the OSM system, introduced by CBSE for the first time through circulars issued in February this year, suffered from large-scale irregularities in the evaluation of answer sheets.

The plea alleged that due to scanning errors and portal glitches, the digital evaluation process resulted in arbitrary assessment and, in some cases, non-evaluation of answers, violating students' rights under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution.

It further claimed that teachers were not provided adequate formal training before implementation of the OSM system and that scanned answer sheets suffered from defects such as missing pages, illegible scans and incomplete evaluation.

The petitioner also alleged that the irregularities had adversely affected a large number of students in India and abroad and pointed to a decline in the overall Class 12 pass percentage to 85.2 per cent this year, seeking re-evaluation, rechecking and an independent inquiry into the evaluation process.

Earlier, the Delhi High Court had also agreed to examine concerns surrounding the CBSE's newly introduced OSM system.

On June 8, a Bench of Justices Neena Bansal Krishna and Madhu Jain issued notice to the Centre and CBSE on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the National Students' Union of India (NSUI), which questioned the fairness, transparency and reliability of the digital evaluation mechanism.

The PIL alleged that thousands of students across the country faced issues such as blurred scans, missing pages, mismatched answer sheets, incomplete uploads and unexpectedly low marks after the declaration of the Class 12 results. It also sought directions to reopen the verification portal, permit manual rechecking and physical verification of disputed answer sheets, order an independent inquiry into the alleged irregularities and frame safeguards for future digital evaluation systems.

The introduction of the On-Screen Marking system by the CBSE was part of a broader initiative to modernize the examination process and improve efficiency in the evaluation of answer sheets. Traditionally, answer sheets were evaluated manually, which often led to delays and inconsistencies in marking. The OSM system aimed to streamline this process by digitizing the evaluation, allowing multiple evaluators to assess answer sheets simultaneously, thereby reducing the time taken to declare results.

However, the transition to a digital system has not been without its challenges. Critics have raised concerns about the lack of preparedness among educators and evaluators to adapt to this new methodology. The absence of adequate training for teachers tasked with evaluating answer sheets through the OSM system has been a significant point of contention. Many educators have expressed their apprehensions regarding the reliability of the technology used, particularly in terms of scanning quality and data management.

The impact of these technological issues has been profound, with students reporting instances where their answers were either not evaluated or marked incorrectly due to glitches in the system. Such discrepancies not only affect students' academic records but also have far-reaching implications for their future educational and career opportunities. The significance of the Class 12 board examinations in India cannot be overstated, as they often serve as a critical juncture in a student's academic journey, influencing their admission into higher education institutions.

The decline in the overall pass percentage to 85.2 per cent this year, as highlighted in the petition, raises alarms about the effectiveness and reliability of the OSM system. This figure suggests that a significant number of students may have been adversely affected, leading to heightened anxiety and uncertainty among students and parents alike. The emotional and psychological toll on students facing such challenges cannot be overlooked, as many invest years of hard work into preparing for these examinations.

In response to the growing concerns, the establishment of a one-member commission to review the OSM mechanism signifies a recognition of the need for reform and accountability within the CBSE. The commission's findings and recommendations will be crucial in determining the future direction of the evaluation process. Stakeholders, including students, educators, and policymakers, will be keenly observing the developments stemming from this review.

Furthermore, the Supreme Court's involvement underscores the judiciary's role in safeguarding students' rights and ensuring that educational institutions adhere to principles of fairness and transparency. The court's directive for the Solicitor General to provide a status report on the government's actions reflects a proactive approach to addressing the grievances raised by students and advocates for a more equitable evaluation process.

As the hearing continues, it remains imperative for the CBSE and the Union government to address these concerns transparently and effectively. The implementation of corrective measures will be essential not only for restoring students' faith in the evaluation process but also for ensuring that the integrity of the education system is upheld. The implications of this case extend beyond the immediate concerns surrounding the OSM system, as they may set a precedent for how digital evaluation mechanisms are implemented and regulated in the future.

In conclusion, the ongoing scrutiny of the CBSE's On-Screen Marking system highlights the delicate balance between technological advancement and educational integrity. As the situation unfolds, it will be critical for all stakeholders to engage in constructive dialogue to ensure that the interests of students remain at the forefront of any reforms undertaken in the evaluation process.