CBSE's decision to introduce On-Screen Marking (OSM) for Class 12 board examinations this year was intended to modernise the evaluation process. The digital platform was designed to reduce human errors in marking and score compilation while creating a transparent, traceable system where answer scripts could be securely stored and retrieved for re-evaluation when required, according to Manash Pratim Gohain's Times of India report.
However, what was envisioned as a step towards digitisation soon became mired in controversy. Introduced barely a week before examinations, OSM drew criticism from teachers who claimed they had little time to familiarise themselves with the new system. The rollout was followed by allegations of result discrepancies, technical glitches, portal crashes and concerns over data privacy. Students also questioned CBSE's decision to appoint COEMPT Eduteck, a company that had reportedly faced evaluation-related controversies in other states.
