CBSE Evaluation Controversy: Supreme Court Calls for Transparency and Accountability
The Supreme Court has renewed focus on the unresolved CBSE On-Screen Marking (OSM) controversy, which affected nearly 18 lakh Class XII students. Despite the widespread impact, the response was less robust than to NEET irregularities. The OSM process faced issues like portal glitches, payment failures, and blurred scans, denying many students equal opportunity to verify evaluations. The court highlighted concerns about the integrity of the evaluation system. A proposed "seven-day framework" could restore transparency by providing universal access to evaluated answer scripts, allowing verification of completeness and authenticity, and enabling re-evaluation of genuine grievances, thereby strengthening public trust and accountability.
Key Points
- The CBSE On-Screen Marking (OSM) controversy affected nearly 18 lakh Class XII students, raising concerns about evaluation integrity.
- Many students were denied equal opportunity to verify their evaluations due to procedural and technical flaws in the OSM review process.
- The Supreme Court emphasized the need for transparency and accountability in the evaluation system.
- A "seven-day framework" is proposed to provide universal access to evaluated answer scripts, allow verification, and facilitate grievance redressal.
- Effective implementation of such reforms is crucial to restore public confidence and ensure fairness in digital evaluation.
Exam Facts
- The controversy affected nearly 18 lakh Class XII students.
- Around 98 lakh answer scripts were digitised under the OSM system.
- The Central Information Commission (CIC) advised CBSE to frame comprehensive SOPs under Section 25(5) of the RTI Act.
- In one reported case, a student's History marks increased from 74 to 97 after re-evaluation.
Read it. Retain it. Recall it.
Get spaced-repetition flashcards, daily quizzes and offline access — free on Android.