As anger grows over CBSE’s On-Screen Marking (OSM) system, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has responded to the controversy. He said he takes responsibility and assured students and parents that action will be taken if any problems are found in the evaluation process. “I take responsibility. It will be fixed, a solution will be found. We are all working on that task,” he said.
The minister’s comments come after several complaints from students about blurred scanned copies, unchecked answers, website crashes, payment failures and confusion during the re-evaluation process.
Minister Defends Digital Evaluation System
Speaking after a meeting with CBSE officials in Delhi, Pradhan defended the Board’s new digital evaluation system but also admitted that students had faced stress. “Out of the 17 lakh students who took the exam, we have maintained the answer scripts of 98 lakh copies,” he said.
According to him, each answer book has around 40 pages, taking the total number of scanned pages to nearly “40 crore scanned copies”. He described the On-Screen Marking system as “a progressive instrument” that is already being used by institutions around the world.
“It is student-centric and designed for students, ensuring they receive transparent information about their marks,” he added.
‘No One Will Be Spared’: Minister Promises Action on Irregularities
The issue has now become political, with Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi questioning how the matter was handled and demanding accountability. Replying to Gandhi’s criticism, Pradhan said CBSE had already explained its position and followed government procurement rules. “I want to assure everyone that if any irregularities are found, no one will be spared,” he said.
He also accused Rahul Gandhi of repeatedly opposing systems linked to “Digital India” and scientific progress. “Politics can be done later. Right now, the most important thing is that the mental stress of these students and examinees should not increase further,” Pradhan said.
The minister appealed to political leaders and the public not to make comments that could increase anxiety among students already worried about marks, verification and re-evaluation.
Why the CBSE OSM Issue Became Bigger
The controversy started after thousands of students reported problems while trying to access scanned copies of their evaluated answer sheets. Many students said some pages were blurred or incomplete. Others claimed that answers had not been checked properly or marks were given incorrectly. Parents and students also reported repeated payment failures and website crashes during busy hours.
CBSE later extended the deadline for applying for scanned answer books. The Board also released a statement asking students to “not feel anxious” and assured them that all genuine concerns would be reviewed by subject experts.
Even as CBSE continues efforts to control the situation, the OSM system has become one of the Board’s biggest controversies in recent years. The issue has raised wider questions about transparency, digital systems and student trust in important public examinations.
