New Delhi, May 28: Amid mounting controversy surrounding its On-Screen Marking (OSM) process for Class 12 board examinations, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Thursday asserted that its digital evaluation platform is fully secure and technologically robust, rejecting allegations of vulnerabilities or compromise in the assessment system.
The Board clarified that no security breach or flaw has been detected in the actual evaluation portal and maintained that the OSM mechanism is supported by a strong digital infrastructure equipped with several quality-control measures to ensure accuracy and confidentiality in the evaluation of answer books.
In an official statement, CBSE said the platform had undergone security audits conducted by empanelled agencies and was certified after detailed technical testing. The Board further stated that scanned answer sheets are processed through multiple verification layers to maintain integrity and transparency during the assessment process.
Addressing concerns raised by students on social media, CBSE assured candidates that their answer books are “safe” and protected through advanced digital safeguards. The Board added that all evaluation-related processes are monitored under strict protocols designed to prevent manipulation or discrepancies.
The clarification comes in the wake of widespread criticism over the awarding of a contract linked to the digital evaluation system for the 2026 Class 12 board examinations. Allegations circulating online claimed that the OSM platform may have been compromised, leading to concerns among students and parents regarding the accuracy of marks awarded.
CBSE had earlier dismissed allegations related to the contract awarded to Coempt Edutech, stating that the procurement process was carried out in accordance with the General Financial Rules and followed all required procedures. The Board termed several claims being circulated online as “misleading”, “factually incorrect” and lacking credible evidence.
The controversy intensified after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi demanded an independent judicial inquiry and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the matter. Gandhi alleged that the company associated with the OSM process had a controversial background linked to previous examination irregularities in Telangana.
In a video shared on social media, Gandhi claimed that Coempt Edutech was previously known as Globarena and alleged that the company had earlier been associated with examination-related controversies in Telangana in 2019 and 2023. He further alleged that errors in the OSM-based evaluation system had caused severe distress among students.
The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha also criticised the Centre over the issue, claiming that students and parents across the country were anxious over the credibility of the evaluation process.
Meanwhile, several Class 12 students have reported discrepancies between their original handwritten answers and the scanned copies uploaded online by the Board. Some students alleged mismatches in handwriting and inconsistencies in evaluated answer sheets, sparking fresh concerns over the functioning of the digital assessment system.
CBSE, however, maintained that the evaluation mechanism remains reliable and secure, reiterating that adequate safeguards are in place to protect students’ interests and ensure fairness in the marking process.