New Delhi: The Central Government has removed CBSE Chairman Rahul Singh and Secretary Himanshu Gupta from their positions amid controversy over the board’s On-Screen Marking system and the tender process linked to its implementation. A one-member inquiry committee headed by former senior IAS officer S. Radha Chauhan has been appointed to examine the matter.
Inquiry to Examine Tender and Vendor Selection
According to government sources, the inquiry committee will review the tender process, vendor selection, contract allocation and administrative decisions connected to the On-Screen Marking project. The committee has been asked to assess whether the procedures followed were in line with established rules, transparency standards and governance norms.
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S. Radha Chauhan, who will lead the inquiry, is a retired 1988-batch IAS officer from the Uttar Pradesh cadre. She earlier served as Secretary in the Department of Personnel and Training and currently heads the Capacity Building Commission.
Officials indicated that the committee will examine documents, procurement records, contracts and administrative approvals related to the project. Officials and stakeholders associated with the system may also be asked to provide clarifications during the investigation.
OSM System Under Scrutiny
The On-Screen Marking system was introduced by CBSE as part of efforts to digitise and modernise the evaluation process. The system was aimed at improving efficiency, reducing turnaround time and strengthening answer-sheet assessment management.
However, concerns were later raised over transparency, technical execution and quality-control mechanisms. The controversy gained further attention during the re-evaluation process, when several students reportedly faced difficulties in accessing scanned copies of their answer books.
Complaints related to portal functionality, document availability and procedural challenges brought CBSE’s digital infrastructure and administrative processes under closer public scrutiny.
Cyberattack Claim Adds to Concerns
The issue intensified after CBSE recently claimed that its re-evaluation portal had faced large-scale cyberattack attempts, including denial-of-service activity and unauthorised file-access attempts. The board said its security systems had identified and responded to the incidents.
Education experts said CBSE’s administrative and technological decisions carry significant public importance because the board handles examination processes affecting millions of students. They said transparency, accountability and strong digital governance are essential in evaluation systems and procurement.
A researcher at Algoritha Security observed that large-scale educational platforms require robust governance, secure digital infrastructure and transparent vendor-selection processes. Any weakness in oversight or implementation, the researcher noted, can affect institutional credibility and student confidence.
Attention is now focused on the findings of the inquiry led by S. Radha Chauhan. The outcome may influence future reforms aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability and technological governance within CBSE.
