CBSE OSM Row: Supreme Court Seeks Centre, CBSE Response Over Re-Evaluation Requests From 1.68 Lakh Students

The Supreme Court recently sought comprehensive responses from the Indian government and the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) regarding grievances linked to their On-Screen Marking (OSM) system. This issue is particularly significant as these CBSE marks directly impact students' eligibility and chances of admission to higher education programs.

According to reports, the bench presided over by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant instructed the Centre to submit its affidavit by the following Monday. The court is currently evaluating a Public Interest Litigation which seeks to establish clear rules for OSM-based exams and a reliable mechanism for students to voice concerns over perceived evaluation errors.

During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the court that a one-member committee had been formed to investigate complaints about the examination and evaluation process. Following this committee's work, CBSE opened a grievance redressal portal which remained open for one week. Around 1.68 lakh students utilized this portal to request re-evaluation of their answer sheets.

Mehta stated that a note containing the relevant information had been prepared and that he would submit it to the court by Monday after consulting the Centre. Petitioners argued that a one-week window for grievances was insufficient, as students continued to express concerns even after the window closed. Some students claimed they had submitted applications but had not received their answer sheets or the results of re-evaluation.

The petitioners urged the court to consider reopening the grievance mechanism. However, the Centre pointed out that extending the window could cause complications because CBSE results are interconnected with various entrance examinations and admission schedules, including those for IITs and other institutions. Mehta explained that the one-week grievance period was determined considering these factors and referred to earlier proceedings before a High Court.

The court also sought category-wise details of students whose cases might require intervention, including those who applied during the grievance window but received no response, those who did not receive their answer sheets, and those who could not access the grievance mechanism due to lack of internet or other infrastructure issues.