NEW DELHI — In a significant move toward digital transformation, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has officially announced...
NEW DELHI — In a significant move toward digital transformation, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has officially announced the implementation of On-Screen Marking (OSM) for the evaluation of Class 12 answer scripts, beginning with the 2026 Board Examinations.
The directive, issued via a formal circular on February 9, 2026, marks a structural shift from manual evaluation to a secure digital ecosystem. While students will continue to sit for traditional pen-and-paper examinations, the backend processing of over 100 million answer books will now be fully digitized.
Strategic Objectives of the Digital Shift
The Board has articulated several key advantages of the OSM system, aimed at bolstering the integrity of the national assessment process:
Elimination of Calculation Errors: The software automatically aggregates marks, effectively removing the possibility of totalling errors—one of the primary reasons for post-result grievances.
Operational Transparency: A comprehensive digital audit trail tracks every evaluator's action, ensuring accountability and consistency in marking across diverse regions.
Logistical Optimization: Digitizing scripts eliminates the high-risk physical transport of answer booklets across state and international borders, reducing both the carbon footprint and the risk of script misplacement.
Inclusive Evaluation: The system facilitates the involvement of a broader pool of qualified teachers, including those from CBSE-affiliated schools in 26 countries, who can now participate in evaluation from secure local terminals.
Technological Requirements for Schools
To ensure a seamless transition, CBSE has mandated that all affiliated schools verify and upgrade their technical infrastructure. The following specifications are required to support the OSM platform:
| Component | Minimum Specification |
| Operating System | Windows 8 or above |
| Hardware | 4 GB RAM; 1 GB free space on C:/ drive |
| Connectivity | Public Static IP; Minimum 2 Mbps bandwidth |
| Power Supply | Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS/Generator) |
| Software | Updated browsers (Chrome/Edge); Adobe Reader |
Implementation Roadmap
The Board is adopting a phased approach, with Class 10 evaluations remaining in physical mode for the 2026 cycle. For Class 12, the following steps are currently underway:
Teacher Data Integration: Schools were required to update teacher profiles on the OASIS portal by mid-February to generate secure login credentials.
Mock Evaluations: A nationwide "practice session" window was opened in late February to familiarize examiners with the digital interface and annotation tools.
Support Systems: A dedicated technical call center and a series of instructional webinars have been launched to assist school principals and evaluators in real-time.
Official Stance: "This initiative is a cornerstone of our effort to enhance efficiency and transparency. By automating coordination and reducing manual intervention, we aim to deliver more accurate results in a shorter timeframe," stated Dr. Sanyam Bhardwaj, Controller of Examinations.
