CBSE OSM Controversy Update: Revaluation and Answer Sheet Verification Costs Reduced

In a major relief for lakhs of students and parents, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced a steep reduction in fees for the verification, access, and re-evaluation of Class 12 board exam answer sheets. The decision follows widespread anxiety among students linking a recent dip in overall pass percentages to the newly re-introduced On-Screen Marking (OSM) digital evaluation system.

Addressing a press conference, Union School Education Secretary Sanjay Kumar, alongside CBSE Chairperson Rahul Singh and Controller of Examinations Sanyam Bhardwaj, detailed the heavily subsidized grievance fee structure designed to ease student stress and maximize operational transparency.

In an unprecedented student-friendly move, the Ministry of Education confirmed that if a student's marks are revised upwards during the scrutiny process, the entire re-evaluation fee will be fully refunded.

New CBSE Re-Evaluation Fee Structure (2026)

To make the grievance redressal process financially accessible to all families, CBSE has overhauled its service charges as follows:

Official Application Timeline

The board has strategically reversed the script access flow, allowing students to inspect their digitally evaluated answer sheets before choosing to challenge specific questions.

• Window to Apply for Scanned Answer Scripts: May 19 to May 22, 2026

• Window to Apply for Verification & Re-Evaluation: May 26 to May 29, 2026

Applications must be submitted online exclusively through the official portal at cbse.gov.in.

Education Ministry Defends On-Screen Marking (OSM)

While the Class 12 pass percentage experienced a drop from 88% last year to 85.29% this year, the Education Ministry explicitly dismissed any correlation between the digital shift and the decline in scores. Officials emphasized that the underlying academic evaluation rules and step-marking protocols remained completely unchanged.

Key Facts Shared by Officials Regarding the OSM Process:

• Massive Scale: Nearly 98 lakh Class 12 answer booklets were securely scanned into encrypted PDFs, navigating three tiers of digital security checkups.

• Standardized Safeguards: The digital system automatically locks in a predefined marking scheme created by veteran academicians, eliminating manual totalling errors.

• Manual Intervention: A total of 13,853 answer sheets were flagged as illegible—often due to students utilizing light-colored ink. To prevent any student from being unfairly penalized, these copies were isolated and checked manually by human examiners.

• Proven Track Record: Officials noted that OSM is an internationally accepted norm utilized by the Cambridge and IB boards, as well a premium domestic institutions like Delhi University, Mumbai University, and the ICAI.

Official CBSE Helpline and Communication Channels

In response to reports of fraudulent activity online, CBSE issued a strict advisory regarding its communication channels. Students and parents seeking psychological support, exam data clarifications, or score resolution assistance can connect through the following authorized routes:

• Toll-Free Tele-Counselling Support Line: 1800-11-8004

• Official Grievance Email: resultcbse2026@cbseshiksha.in