CBSE chairman, secretary transferred as government orders inquiry amid OSM row

The Centre has transferred CBSE Chairman Rahul Singh and Secretary Himanshu Gupta amid growing scrutiny over the board's On-Screen Marking (OSM) system and the procurement process behind its implementation, CNN-News18 reported citing sources.

The move comes as the Union Education Ministry steps up its examination of alleged irregularities in the tendering process and cybersecurity concerns linked to the digital evaluation platform used for assessing Class 12 answer scripts.

Top CBSE officials transferred

According to sources cited in report, both Rahul Singh and Himanshu Gupta have been shifted from their positions as questions mount over the rollout of the OSM platform.

The controversy has drawn attention to the board's decision to implement a new digital evaluation mechanism on a large scale, covering nearly 10 million answer scripts, despite concerns raised during the process.

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Centre constitutes inquiry committee

The central government has also constituted a one-member committee headed by S. Radha Chauhan, Chairperson of the Capacity Building Commission (CBC), to investigate matters related to the procurement of services for the OSM system by CBSE.

As per an office memorandum dated June 2, the committee has been tasked with examining the procurement process and will submit its report to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) within one month.

"The chairperson of the committee is empowered to obtain the assistance of officers from other offices, as required. Secretarial assistance to the committee will be provided by CBC," the memorandum stated.

Questions over OSM rollout

The OSM system came under the spotlight after students reported difficulties accessing scanned copies of their answer books following the declaration of CBSE Class 10 and Class 12 results.

Several candidates complained of blurred images, missing pages and technical issues while using the board's online services. Concerns were also raised over delays in re-evaluation processes and the overall functioning of the platform.

The issue gained further attention as questions emerged regarding the vendor selection process, the awarding of the digital evaluation contract and potential cybersecurity vulnerabilities within the system.

Parents, teachers raise concerns

The developments triggered criticism from sections of parents and teachers, who questioned the pace at which the new evaluation mechanism was introduced.

The concerns centred on the decision to fully implement a new digital assessment system despite alleged operational and technical challenges.

CBSE rejects allegations

CBSE officials have rejected allegations of irregularities and maintained that the procurement process complied with General Financial Rules (GFR) and established government procedures.

The board has also extended certain deadlines, issued multiple clarifications and assured students that all genuine grievances related to answer books and evaluation would be addressed through the prescribed mechanism.