Ministry of Education Addresses Concerns Over CBSE Class 12 Score Decline
Govt dismisses link between CBSE Class 12 score drop and on-screen marking system
The Economic Times
Image: The Economic Times
The Ministry of Education in India has dismissed claims linking the decline in CBSE Class 12 pass percentages to the new On-Screen Marking (OSM) system. The pass percentage fell to 85.2% in 2026 from 88.39% in 2025, but officials assure that OSM enhances transparency and fairness in evaluation. Students can request re-evaluation at a reduced fee of ₹100.
- 01The overall pass percentage for CBSE Class 12 dropped by 3 percentage points in 2026.
- 02Over 98 lakh answer sheets were evaluated under the OSM system, with about 13,000 facing legibility issues.
- 03The OSM method aims to provide quicker access to verified answer sheets, reducing the waiting time from 7-10 days to 24 hours.
- 04The OSM system was previously attempted in 2014 but was halted due to technical issues.
- 05School Education Secretary Sanjay Kumar emphasized that student welfare remains a top priority for the Ministry.
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In response to concerns about the drop in pass percentages for the CBSE Class 12 Board exams, the Ministry of Education has clarified that the new On-Screen Marking (OSM) system is not to blame. The pass percentage decreased to 85.2% in 2026 from 88.39% in 2025, raising alarms among students and parents. Sanjay Kumar, the School Education Secretary, emphasized that OSM is an internationally recognized evaluation standard that enhances transparency and minimizes errors. He highlighted that 98 lakh answer sheets were evaluated under OSM, with only 13,000 facing legibility issues due to lighter ink. Furthermore, students can now request re-evaluation and verification of their answer sheets for a reduced fee of ₹100 each. The OSM method, which was previously attempted in 2014 but faced setbacks, has been reintroduced after improvements in digital infrastructure and teacher training. The CBSE aims to ensure a fair evaluation process, maintaining the step-wise marking system while transitioning to digital evaluations.
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The drop in pass percentages may affect students' confidence and future opportunities, prompting the Ministry to offer re-evaluation options.
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