New Delhi: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has lodged a formal complaint with the Delhi Police after a series of alleged cyber attacks disrupted its post-result services portal, affecting thousands of Class XII students seeking re-evaluation and verification of examination results. The development comes after weeks of technical glitches that left many students struggling to access critical services related to answer-sheet verification and rechecking.
According to CBSE, the complaint has been submitted to the Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit of the Delhi Police, which has now initiated a probe into what the Board described as a coordinated and sophisticated cyber campaign targeting its online systems. The portal is widely used by students applying for services such as mark verification, obtaining scanned answer sheets, and requesting re-evaluation of examination papers.
Recurring Disruptions and Application Deadlines
The issue first surfaced shortly after the re-evaluation process began on May 19, when students from different parts of the country started reporting repeated technical failures. Many candidates complained that they were unable to log into the system, submit applications, or complete payment procedures. Despite several attempts by CBSE to restore normal operations and reopen the portal, problems continued to persist.
Officials said this was the fourth time the portal had been reopened after earlier disruptions, yet students continued to face difficulties as application deadlines approached. The situation sparked concern among parents and students, many of whom feared they could miss the opportunity to challenge their marks due to technical issues beyond their control.
CBSE stated that the portal was relaunched on June 2 following corrective measures, but during the subsequent three days it came under what the Board termed sustained cyber attacks. According to preliminary assessments, the attacks involved massive volumes of malicious internet traffic originating from multiple IP addresses located both within India and abroad.
Traffic Flooding and Data Safety Assurance
The Board alleged that the apparent objective behind the attacks was to overwhelm the system, prevent legitimate users from accessing services, and potentially attempt unauthorized extraction of information. Such attacks are commonly associated with efforts to disrupt digital infrastructure by flooding servers with abnormal traffic, thereby reducing or completely blocking access for genuine users.
Despite the disruptions, CBSE emphasized that there has been no compromise of student data or internal records. Officials said the Board’s cybersecurity mechanisms functioned effectively throughout the incident and prevented any successful breach of sensitive information.
In an official statement, CBSE said its round-the-clock monitoring systems and rapid-response cybersecurity protocols helped detect and neutralize the threat before any significant damage could occur. The Board maintained that all critical databases remain secure and that no unauthorized access to student records has been identified so far.
Inter-Agency Collaboration and Investigation
To contain the attacks and strengthen defenses, CBSE worked closely with several national-level technical and cybersecurity institutions. These included experts from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, IIT Madras, the Digital India Corporation, the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), and the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In). The agencies reportedly collaborated to analyze attack patterns, monitor network activity, and ensure uninterrupted functioning of essential services.
The cyber attack allegations come at a sensitive time, as thousands of students across India are currently seeking re-evaluation and verification of their Class XII examination results. Educational experts note that any disruption during this period can significantly impact admission timelines, scholarship applications, and competitive examination planning.
Students and parents have expressed frustration over the recurring technical issues, with many urging authorities to provide additional time for applications. Several candidates reported repeated login failures and incomplete submissions despite multiple attempts over several days.
CBSE has assured students that efforts are being made to maintain service availability and address pending issues. The Board has also reiterated that cybersecurity remains a top priority and that all necessary measures are being taken to safeguard digital infrastructure against future attacks.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Police investigation is expected to focus on identifying the source of the alleged cyber attacks, tracing the origin of suspicious network activity, and determining whether any organized group or individuals were responsible. Authorities will also examine digital evidence collected from affected systems as part of the ongoing probe.
The last date for students to apply for re-evaluation and related post-result services remains June 6 at midnight, with officials continuing to monitor the situation closely as the deadline approaches.
