NEW DELHI: Amid concerns among students over possible loss of marks due to the use of On-Screen Marking (OSM) for evaluating Class XII examinations, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Sunday sharply reduced the fees for obtaining answer sheets, verification, and re-evaluation, even as it defended the digital evaluation system as a globally accepted and transparent method of assessment.
Under the revised structure, the fee for obtaining a scanned copy of an evaluated answer sheet has been reduced from Rs 700 to Rs 100 per subject. The verification fee has been cut from Rs 500 to Rs 100, while the re-evaluation fee per question has been reduced from Rs 100 to Rs 25.
Background of the Fee Reduction
The changes come after some students and teachers raised concerns over the use of OSM, a digital evaluation method in which teachers assess scanned copies of answer sheets on screen. The overall Class XII pass percentage declined from 88% to 85% this year, leading to questions over whether the evaluation process had affected scores.
History of On-Screen Marking
Officials said CBSE had first experimented with OSM as a pilot project in 2014, but the system was not expanded then because of limitations in scanning infrastructure, bandwidth, and digital evaluation capacity across regions.
According to the Ministry of Education, CBSE implemented the system following improvements in digital infrastructure and large-scale examiner training. The board cited the need for greater standardisation, reduction in totalling errors, and tighter security in evaluation processes.
Official Response
School Education Secretary Sanjay Kumar, however, said there was “no direct correlation” between OSM and the decline in scores or pass percentages.
Officials said students can apply for scanned copies of answer sheets between May 19 and May 22, while verification and re-evaluation applications can be submitted between May 26 and May 29.
About the Author: Manash Pratim Gohain is a seasoned journalist with over two decades at The Times of India, where he has built a rich body of work spanning education policy, politics, and governance. Renowned for his incisive coverage of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, accreditation reforms, and skilling initiatives, he has also reported on student politics, urban policy, and social movements. His political reportage—both reflective and news-driven—adds depth to his writing, bridging policy with public impact. Through his 2,500 articles and related outlets, he has emerged as a trusted voice in national discourse, particularly in linking education reform to broader societal change.
