3 min readMay 28, 2026 11:56 AM IST
Even as the Central Board of Secondary Education’s new On-Screen Marking (OSM) system faces flak, with students reporting blurred answer sheets and missing pages, principals across several schools in Delhi claimed the Board asked them to post positive messages defending the digital evaluation system online.
Many claimed a statement was circulated praising the rollout of the OSM and reassuring students that “no child will be allowed to suffer due to a technical error”. They said they were contacted by CBSE regional officials through phone calls, WhatsApp groups and informal communication channels.
The purported statement read: “This year, CBSE has taken a massive step toward modernising our examination ecosystem”. It describes the transition to digital evaluation as “a monumental shift”. The purported message claims the system has “fundamentally improved the structural integrity of our assessments” and “completely eliminates human clerical errors.” It also urges schools to “embrace these digital advancements with patience” and “trust the system”.
Over the past week, students across India have reported missing scanned pages, blurred answer sheets, unmarked answers and, in some cases, entirely swapped answer books after CBSE introduced full-scale digital evaluation for Class 12 examinations this year. The controversy triggered outrage and demands for an independent review of the system.
The CBSE has consistently maintained that the OSM system is secure and that grievances are being handled on priority. The Indian Express reached out to officials at CBSE but received no comment.
Meanwhile, reels, videos and testimonials from schools praising the OSM rollout have rolled out on social media.
“We were verbally told to reassure parents and students and highlight the positive aspects of OSM,” said a principal of a private school in Delhi, requesting anonymity. “There was a clear sense that schools should help calm the narrative,” the principal claimed.
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Another private school principal claimed the “CBSE is doing damage control”.
One section of the purported statement specifically addresses growing complaints over missing pages and scanning glitches: “Some of you who accessed your digital copies have pointed out instances of blurred pages, illegible scans, or technical glitches on the post-result portal.” It then reassures students that CBSE’s “dedicated backend teams are thoroughly validating every single complaint.”
Several principals said that while they understood the need to prevent panic, many schools were still receiving complaints from students whose answer sheets appeared incomplete or improperly evaluated.
One principal said teachers had been spending hours helping students navigate the re-evaluation portal while simultaneously being encouraged to publicly project confidence in the system.
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“It becomes difficult,” the principal said, “because parents are coming to us with genuine concerns, but online there is pressure to sound reassuring.”
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