CBSE detected nearly 20 answer-sheet mix-up cases on OSM portal: Sources

CBSE detected around 20 answer-sheet mix-ups during the first implementation of its on-screen marking system for Class 12 examinations. The disclosure came at a time when questions were being raised about the credibility of the board's new digital evaluation process.

In Short

• Around 68,000 answer sheets required rescanning after quality issues emerged
• More than four lakh students had earlier sought scanned answer books
• CBSE delayed the verification portal launch while technical upgrades continued

CBSE detected around 20 cases of answer-sheet mix-ups during the first implementation of its On-Screen Marking (OSM) system this year. Government sources said more than 13,000 answer sheets also had to be evaluated manually after scanning issues affected the quality of digital copies.

The issue surfaced after students accessed scanned versions of their answer sheets through the CBSE portal as part of the post-result verification process. Some students found that the answer sheets uploaded against their names did not belong to them.

One of the cases involved Class 12 student Vedant, who drew attention on social media after claiming that the Physics answer sheet shared by CBSE during re-evaluation was not his. Another student, Sanjana, also reported a similar problem.

According to sources, the mismatch occurred during the scanning process. After students raised complaints, CBSE contacted them and provided the correct answer sheets.

Sources said around 20 cases of mismatched answer sheets were reported after students viewed the scanned copies made available on the portal.

The OSM system was introduced this year for Class 12 board examinations. Under the new process, answer sheets were scanned and evaluated digitally. Sources said more than 98 lakh answer booklets, amounting to nearly 40 crore pages, were scanned during the exercise.

During the process, around 68,000 answer sheets were found to have scanning-related quality issues and were scanned again.

Even after rescanning, more than 13,000 answer sheets did not meet the required standards for digital evaluation and had to be checked manually.

The concerns surrounding the digital evaluation process have also affected CBSE's post-result services. The board postponed the opening of its Class 12 verification and re-evaluation portal from May 29 to June 1.

The board is expecting a large number of applications for post-result services. Reports suggest that more than four lakh applications had already been received earlier for obtaining scanned copies of answer books.

Sources indicated that from next year, answer sheets may also be made available through DigiLocker along with mark sheets.

Officials maintained that introducing a new system at such a scale would naturally involve operational challenges, but argued that technology-driven evaluation remains the direction for future reforms.

The project has also attracted political attention. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi recently questioned the award of the contract to Coempt, formerly known as Globarena, citing its past record in Telangana.

Sources, however, said the bidding process followed established procedures. They stated that Coempt and Tata Consultancy Services were the two technically qualified bidders in the final round.

According to the sources, Coempt quoted approximately Rs 24.75 per answer booklet, inclusive of taxes, while TCS quoted around Rs 65-66 per booklet before taxes, making Coempt the lowest bidder.

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