{
  "id": 9882932,
  "title": "CBSE gets new chief, third chairperson in 4 months amid OSM row",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/26/cbse-gets-new-chief-third-chairperson-in-4-months-amid-osm-row",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-26T01:41:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Hindustan Times",
    "slug": "hindustan-times",
    "url": "https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/cbse-gets-new-chief-third-chairperson-in-4-months-amid-osm-row-ias-officer-mandeep-k-bhandari-101790385474135.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has appointed Mandeep K Bhandari, a senior IAS officer, as its new chairperson. This marks the third time in less than four months that a different individual has headed the board, following controversy surrounding its On-Screen Marking (OSM) system. The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) approved Bhandari's appointment through a temporary upgrade of his post to that of additional secretary to the Government of India. Bhandari, a 2001-batch IAS officer from the AGMUT cadre, had previously served as principal secretary to the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir and as additional chief executive officer of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board. His appointment comes after Prashant Lokhande, who held the interim charge of CBSE chairperson, was reappointed to the same role on June 2, replacing former chairperson Rahul Singh. The interim arrangement was brought to an end with Bhandari's appointment. The OSM controversy prompted a one-member inquiry headed by former Union secretary S Radha Chauhan to investigate allegations of irregularities in the digital evaluation process.",
  "summary": "His prior roles include principal secretary to the Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor and joint secretary in the Union health ministry.",
  "key_points": [
    "CBSE appoints Mandeep K Bhandari as new chairperson",
    "Third chairperson in 4 months amid OSM controversy",
    "Bhandari, IAS officer, upgraded to additional secretary"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The appointment of Mandeep K Bhandari as CBSE chairperson ends the interim arrangement and brings stability to the board amid controversy surrounding its On-Screen Marking system.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Hindu",
        "title": "Former IAS officer appointed on Maha UCC panel",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/former-ias-officer-appointed-on-maha-ucc-panel",
        "published": "2026-09-25T20:33:22.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "Senior bureaucrat Mandeep Bhandari is new CBSE chairperson",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/26/senior-bureaucrat-mandeep-bhandari-is-new-cbse-chairperson",
        "published": "2026-09-26T01:15:25.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}