CBSE Chairman, Secretary shunted out after massive uproar over OSM fiasco
PTC Web Desk: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has witnessed a major administrative reshuffle after the Centre transferred Chairman Rahul Singh and Secretary Himanshu Gupta amid growing controversy surrounding the Board’s On-Screen Marking (OSM) system and related contracts.
The government has also initiated an inquiry into the procurement process of OSM services, indicating a strict approach towards alleged lapses linked to examination and evaluation procedures.
The action follows mounting criticism over issues faced by students during the post-result process for Classes 10 and 12. Complaints related to blurred scanned answer sheets, incomplete pages and technical glitches on CBSE’s digital platforms had triggered widespread concern among parents, students and teachers.
Before his transfer, Rahul Singh, an IAS officer, was responsible for supervising the Board’s core functions, including examinations, academics, affiliations and policy execution. Himanshu Gupta, also an IAS officer, managed administrative affairs, finance and operational coordination across CBSE’s nationwide network of schools and examination centres.
In a parallel move, the Centre has constituted a one-member inquiry committee headed by S Radha Chauhan to examine the procurement of OSM services. The panel is expected to review the tendering process, vendor selection and compliance with procurement norms. It will submit its report to the government after completing the investigation.
Though official details regarding the scope of the probe are yet to be released, sources indicate that questions related to transparency, cybersecurity safeguards and procedural compliance may come under scrutiny.
The controversy surrounding the OSM system intensified after students raised concerns over delays and difficulties in accessing scanned copies of answer sheets after the declaration of board results. The matter further escalated following discussions over the selection process of the technology vendor responsible for digital evaluation services.
Facing criticism, the CBSE had earlier extended deadlines for several post-result services and assured students that all genuine grievances would be addressed through the prescribed review mechanism.
- With inputs from agencies
