Last Updated: 31 May 2026
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) introduced its On-Screen Marking (OSM) system for the 2026 Class 12 board examinations as part of a broader effort to digitise answer-sheet evaluation. The initiative was intended to improve efficiency, reduce manual handling and streamline result processing across one of India’s largest examination systems.
However, the rollout has attracted scrutiny over procurement procedures, cybersecurity safeguards and operational challenges reported during implementation. The issue has drawn attention from students, teachers, technology experts, policymakers and political leaders, prompting responses from both CBSE and the Ministry of Education.
Verification Note
This article is based on publicly available CBSE documents, Ministry of Education statements, Press Information Bureau (PIB) releases, court records and media reports reviewed as of 31 May 2026. Some allegations discussed in public reporting remain under review and have not been established through any publicly released independent inquiry.
Timeline of Key Developments
|
Date/Period |
Status |
Development |
|
February 2025 |
Historical (reported) |
First OSM tender reportedly issued |
|
May 2025 |
Historical (reported) |
Second tender process conducted |
|
August 2025 |
Historical (reported) |
Third tender issued and vendor selected |
|
February 2026 |
Confirmed |
Cybersecurity concerns publicly reported |
|
March 2026 |
Reported |
Feedback from evaluators and schools emerged |
|
May 2026 |
Confirmed |
CBSE Class 12 results declared |
|
June 2026 |
Expected/announced |
Revised re-evaluation process implemented |
Timeline classifications are based on publicly available records reviewed on 31 May 2026.
Questions Raised About the Tender Process
A major area of discussion relates to the award of the OSM contract to Hyderabad-based Coempt EduTeck Pvt Ltd.
According to analyses of publicly available tender documents, media reports and procurement records, eligibility conditions were revised across different stages of the bidding process. Critics argued that some of these changes may have influenced bidder eligibility. CBSE has rejected allegations of favouritism and stated that the procurement process followed prescribed procedures.
The reported revisions involved technical qualifications, infrastructure requirements and penalty provisions.
Reported Tender Revisions
|
Requirement |
Earlier Provision |
Revised Provision |
|
Blacklisting criteria |
Included previously blacklisted firms |
Focused on currently blacklisted firms |
|
Software certification |
Higher certification requirement |
Lower certification level accepted |
|
Scanner specifications |
Higher image-quality standards |
Reduced minimum requirement |
|
Data-centre requirement |
Ownership-based requirement |
Third-party cloud infrastructure permitted |
|
Penalty framework |
Included blacklisting provisions |
Greater emphasis on operational timelines |
The vendor’s previous association with Globarena Technologies, which was linked to examination-related issues in Telangana in 2019, has also been cited in public discussions. No official finding has concluded that the earlier episode directly influenced the CBSE procurement process.
Cybersecurity Concerns
Questions regarding portal security emerged after cybersecurity researcher Nisarga Adhikary publicly reported vulnerabilities in parts of the digital evaluation infrastructure.
The concerns related to authentication controls, cloud-storage configurations and access-management systems. Reports also highlighted issues involving examination-related records and online payment services used during the re-evaluation process.
CBSE initially disputed reports of a security breach but later stated that identified vulnerabilities had been addressed. The board subsequently announced that technical experts would assist in reviewing and strengthening system safeguards.
Reported Security Issues
|
Area |
Concern Raised |
|
Authentication systems |
Reported access-control weaknesses |
|
Cloud infrastructure |
Questions regarding data accessibility |
|
Examination records |
Confidentiality concerns raised |
|
Payment portal |
Fee-calculation issues reported |
As of 31 May 2026, no publicly released government audit has concluded that examination results were altered due to the reported vulnerabilities.
Evaluation Challenges During Rollout
The OSM platform was deployed for one of the largest evaluation exercises undertaken by an Indian education board. According to CBSE-related figures cited in multiple media reports and reviewed on 31 May 2026, the system processed approximately 98.6 lakh answer books during the evaluation cycle.
Evaluators reported concerns related to scan quality, technical interruptions and operational delays during the early stages of implementation. CBSE later acknowledged that some answer sheets required rescanning and that corrective measures were undertaken where readability issues were identified.
Reports also highlighted isolated instances of answer-sheet mismatches during verification and re-evaluation. While such cases represented a small proportion of the overall evaluation volume, they attracted attention because of the importance of accuracy in board examinations.
Evaluation-Related Issues Reported
|
Issue |
Reported Outcome |
|
Poor scan quality |
Rescanning required in some cases |
|
Difficult-to-read copies |
Manual intervention undertaken |
|
Technical interruptions |
Delays reported by evaluators |
|
Answer-sheet mismatches |
Verification concerns raised |
According to CBSE Class 12 Result Statistics released in May 2026 for the 2025-26 examination cycle and reviewed on 31 May 2026, the overall pass percentage stood at 85.20 per cent. CBSE has not officially linked result trends to the OSM system, and examination outcomes may be influenced by multiple academic and administrative factors.
Government and CBSE Response
The Ministry of Education and CBSE subsequently announced a series of corrective measures.
According to a Press Information Bureau (PIB) release issued in May 2026 titled “Union Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan issues instructions to engage IIT experts to assist CBSE in addressing technical challenges”, technical experts from institutions including IIT Madras and IIT Kanpur were engaged to assist CBSE in reviewing system performance and addressing reported concerns.
CBSE also announced infrastructure upgrades, revisions to certain post-result procedures and changes to verification and re-evaluation fee structures. An internal review of vendor performance was initiated to assess compliance with contractual requirements.
Why the Issue Matters
The controversy has become part of a broader discussion on digital transformation in education. As examination systems increasingly adopt technology-based processes, issues such as cybersecurity, procurement transparency, quality assurance and data protection play a critical role in maintaining public confidence.
The experience is likely to inform future examination reforms and digital-governance practices across educational institutions in India.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the CBSE OSM system?
OSM, or On-Screen Marking, is a digital evaluation system that enables examiners to assess scanned answer sheets electronically instead of using physical copies.
Has CBSE admitted a security breach?
CBSE initially disputed reports of a breach but later stated that identified vulnerabilities had been contained and corrective measures were being implemented.
What corrective measures have been announced?
CBSE and the Ministry of Education have announced technical reviews, infrastructure upgrades, fee revisions and security-strengthening measures.
Safety Advisory for Students and Parents
- Use only official CBSE portals for examination-related services.
- Do not share OTPs, passwords or login credentials with anyone.
- Verify payment links before making transactions.
- Avoid third-party agents claiming to offer result corrections or faster approvals.
- CBSE does not request payments through personal bank accounts, messaging applications or unofficial websites.
- Report suspicious calls, messages or websites to CBSE and relevant authorities.
Sources Reviewed
- CBSE notifications and circulars
- CBSE OSM guidance documents
- CBSE Class 12 Result Statistics (May 2026)
- Ministry of Education statements
- Press Information Bureau (PIB) release on IIT expert engagement
- Court records and publicly available reports
Disclaimer
Information presented in this article is based on official statements and publicly reported information available as of 31 May 2026. Policies, findings, procedures and timelines may change as reviews continue. Readers should verify the latest updates through CBSE, the Ministry of Education and other official sources. In case of any discrepancy, official notifications shall prevail over information contained in this article.