The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) identified approximately 20 instances of answer-sheet mismatches during the inaugural implementation of its on-screen marking (OSM) system this year. Additionally, more than 13,000 answer sheets required manual evaluation due to scanning quality problems, government sources informed PTI on Friday.
Student Complaints Spark Investigation
The issue came to light after students accessed scanned copies of their answer sheets on the CBSE portal and discovered that some did not belong to them. One notable case involved a Class 12 student named Vedant, who found that the Physics answer sheet uploaded by CBSE during the revaluation process was not his. Another student, Sanjana, reported a similar problem. These incidents went viral on social media, prompting CBSE to contact the affected students and provide corrected answer sheets.
Scope of the Problem
According to sources, the mismatches were due to scanning mix-ups, affecting about 20 students. In total, over 98 lakh answer sheets, comprising nearly 40 crore pages, were scanned under the OSM system. Among these, around 68,000 sheets had quality issues and were rescanned. However, after rescanning, more than 13,000 copies still lacked the required legibility and had to be evaluated manually.
The controversy has led CBSE to postpone the opening of its Class 12 post-result verification and re-evaluation portal from May 29 to June 1. In a statement on X, CBSE explained that the portal was being strengthened to ensure a transparent, smooth, and error-free process for students applying for verification of marks, photocopies of answer books, and re-evaluation services.
Technical Glitches and Political Scrutiny
Students and parents reported various technical issues, including difficulty accessing scanned copies, payment gateway failures, and incorrect fee displays. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan acknowledged discrepancies in the digital evaluation system and assured students that corrective measures would be taken.
The OSM system's rollout has also drawn political attention. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged that Coempt, the lowest bidder for the project, had a controversial past in Telangana. Coempt quoted approximately Rs 24.75 per answer booklet, while Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) quoted around Rs 65-66 without taxes. Gandhi demanded an independent judicial probe and an SIT investigation.
CBSE's Response and Future Plans
CBSE officials defended the OSM system, stating that technology-driven evaluation enhances transparency. They noted that next year, answer sheets will also be available on DigiLocker alongside mark sheets. A CBSE official said the website infrastructure was being upgraded to handle heavy traffic, as lakhs of students are expected to apply for post-result services. The board advised students not to panic and to use official support channels for assistance.
