Centre transfers CBSE Chairman amid row over digital evaluation system

Even as the controversy over the CBSE’s digital evaluation system rages on, the Centre has transferred the chairman of the board.

According to a report by India Today, the government has also ordered a probe into the procurement of On-Screen Marking (OSM) services.

The developments follow weeks of criticism surrounding CBSE's evaluation framework and post-result services, which drew complaints from students, parents and educators in several parts of the country.

Complaints after board results

Concerns first surfaced after the announcement of Class 10 and Class 12 results, when students seeking access to scanned copies of their answer sheets reported a range of technical issues. Several candidates alleged that pages were unclear, portions of answer books were unavailable and the Board's digital platforms were difficult to navigate.

Also Read: CBSE re-evaluation portal faces cyberattack, records 1.5 million hits in two minutes

Attention subsequently shifted to the On-Screen Marking (OSM) system and the process through which the evaluation contract was awarded. Questions over vendor selection, data security safeguards and delays in re-evaluation requests added to the scrutiny.

In response, CBSE issued a series of clarifications, extended certain deadlines and maintained that all legitimate grievances would be addressed through the prescribed channels.

Govt panel to examine contract award

Amid the ongoing controversy, the government has constituted a committee to examine the procurement of OSM services by the Board.

Although the terms of reference for the panel have not yet been made public, the inquiry is expected to look into the award of the contract and assess whether established procedures were adhered to.

Also Read: CBSE OSM row sparks calls for grace marks, manual re-evaluation | AI With Sanket

Even as questions continue to be raised over CBSE's On-Screen Marking (OSM) system, the Board has disclosed that its re-evaluation portal was targeted by a series of cyberattacks on Tuesday (June 2)

Cyberattack on CBSE portal

In a statement, CBSE said the platform faced a denial-of-service (DoS) attack that generated nearly 1.5 million hits within two minutes. The Board also reported more than 1 lakh attempts to gain unauthorised access to files hosted on the system.

Also Read: CBSE OSM row: Class 12 student Sarthak Sidhant appears before Parliamentary panel

“While thousands of students accessed the CBSE re-evaluation portal today, malicious actors attempted to disrupt services through a barrage of cyberattacks,” stated the CBSE.

The Board, however, maintained that the portal remained functional throughout the day and continued to process student applications despite the attempted disruptions. It said thousands of candidates had successfully completed verification and re-evaluation requests, while the platform was handling substantial user traffic simultaneously.