CBSE Class 12 evaluation glitches: KYS demands probe, minister calls high-level meet
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Student organisation Krantikari Yuva Sangathan (KYS) on Thursday, 28 May condemned what it described as technical failures and evaluation-related discrepancies in the On-Screen Marking (OSM) system introduced by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) for Class 12 examinations this year, demanding an independent and transparent investigation. The condemnation came on the same day Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan chaired a high-level review meeting at CBSE Headquarters, New Delhi, assuring strict action against any lapses.
KYS Demands Independent Probe
In a statement issued by KYS Delhi State Committee Member Bhim Kumar, the organisation called out what it termed systemic failures in the OSM evaluation framework, urging authorities to conduct a credible, arms-length inquiry into the crisis. KYS argued that the discrepancies directly jeopardise the academic futures of students who appeared in the high-stakes board examinations.
What the High-Level Meeting Covered
The ministerial review was attended by Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy, Sanjay Kumar; CBSE Chairperson Rahul Singh; IIT Madras Director V. Kamakoti; the Director of IIT Kanpur; senior officials from the Ministry of Education and Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS); and representatives from public sector banks including SBI, Indian Bank, Bank of Baroda, and Canara Bank. Minister Pradhan directed officials to resolve student grievances in a timely, transparent, and student-friendly manner, reiterating that no negligence — whether within or outside the system — would be tolerated.
Scale of the Examination and Portal Issues
Officials apprised the Minister that nearly 18 lakh students appeared for the Class 12 examinations this year, generating approximately 98 lakh answer sheets and nearly 40 crore scanned pages. So far, around 4 lakh students have accessed approximately 11 lakh scanned answer sheets through the post-result services portal. The Minister also took note of reported login access failures, heavy server load, and payment-related difficulties on the portal.
IIT Experts Tasked with Technical Review
An expert technical team comprising professors from IIT Madras and specialists in digital systems has been tasked with reviewing portal stability, server capacity, login management, and payment gateway integration. The government's stated objective is to ensure seamless, uninterrupted access to post-examination services for all students. The Minister emphasised that strengthening the CBSE digital platform and making examination-related services more accessible remains a priority.
What Happens Next
With the technical review underway and political attention now firmly on the issue, CBSE is under pressure to demonstrate accountability at scale. The outcome of the IIT-led audit and the government's response to KYS's demand for an independent investigation will be closely watched by students, parents, and educators across the country.