Finally heads started rolling in the CBSE On-Screen Marking (OSM) fiasco as the central government transferred CBSE Chairman Rahul Singh and Secretary Himanshu Gupta after ordering an inquiry into the procurement of On-Screen Marking (OSM) services.
The enquiry will unearth the alleged irregularities in examination-related contracts.
Rahul Singh, a 1996-batch IAS officer of the Bihar cadre who took charge as Chairperson of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in March 2024. Before that he was serving as Additional Secretary in the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).
Himanshu Gupta is a 2012 batch IAS officer (AGMUT cadre) who served as the Secretary of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). Prior to that he was serving as Director Education for the Government of NCT of Delhi.
Government sets up enquiry panel
The Centre has appointed S Radha Chauhan, Chairperson of the Capacity Building Commission into a one-member committee to inquire into matters related to the procurement of services for the On-Screen Marking (OSM) system by CBSE.
The committee has been empowered to seek assistance from officers of other departments as required, while secretarial support will be provided by the Capacity Building Commission. It has been tasked with submitting its report within one month to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).
Why the action was initiated?
The controversy began after students reported issues while accessing scanned answer books following the declaration of CBSE Class 10 and 12 results. Several candidates claimed they encountered blurred pages, missing sections and difficulties using the Board's online services.
The situation escalated when questions were raised about the OSM platform and the tendering process through which the digital evaluation contract was awarded. Discussions around the vendor selection process, cybersecurity concerns and delays in re-evaluation services further intensified public attention.
CBSE later extended deadlines, issued multiple clarifications and said every genuine concern raised by students would be reviewed through the prescribed mechanism.
Vivek Shukla is a management graduate who has worked in corporate worked for 20 years and is now pursuing his passion — news.
