The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) saw a major leadership shake-up on Tuesday as the Centre removed chairperson Rahul Singh and secretary Himanshu Gupta from their posts with immediate effect. Alongside this, the government ordered a one-member inquiry into the procurement of the digital evaluation system, known as the on-screen marking (OSM) system.
New Appointments and Transfers
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved the appointment of Lokhande Prashant Sitaram, an additional secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, as the new CBSE chairperson. Singh has been transferred to the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare as an additional secretary. Gupta, on the other hand, has been sent back to his parent cadre in the Ministry of Home Affairs on administrative grounds with an extended cooling-off period. Varun Bhardwaj, a director in the Department of Higher Education, has been appointed as the new CBSE secretary.
Cybersecurity Concerns
Ministry sources revealed that central cybersecurity agencies, including the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), are closely monitoring alleged cyberattacks and security threats targeting CBSE's OSM re-evaluation portal. A senior official stated, "Strict penal action will be taken against those found involved." This move follows weeks of criticism over the rollout of OSM-based evaluation, which was first reported by TOI on Tuesday.
One-Member Committee to Investigate OSM Tender
The rollout of the OSM-based evaluation and post-result processes triggered complaints from students and parents regarding alleged answer-sheet mix-ups, portal glitches, payment failures, and delays in verification and re-evaluation procedures. In response, the government has constituted a one-member committee to inquire into matters relating to the procurement of services for the on-screen marking system by CBSE. The committee will be headed by S Radha Chauhan, chairperson of the Capacity Building Commission.
According to an office memorandum issued by the Cabinet Secretariat on Tuesday, the committee chairperson has been empowered to seek assistance from officers of other offices as required, while secretarial support will be provided by the Capacity Building Commission. The committee has been asked to submit its report to the Department of Personnel and Training within one month. The memorandum was also marked to the principal secretary to the Prime Minister, indicating that the matter has reached the highest levels of government scrutiny.
Implications and Next Steps
Sources in the Education Ministry said the inquiry would examine issues linked to the procurement process for the OSM system amid mounting concerns over its implementation. The swift action underscores the government's commitment to addressing grievances and ensuring transparency in the evaluation process. The new leadership will likely focus on restoring confidence among students and parents while the investigation proceeds.
