The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has confirmed approximately 20 cases of answer sheet mix-ups. These errors occurred during the initial implementation of its On-Screen Marking (OSM) system. Students discovered the discrepancies after receiving scanned copies of their answer scripts. Some students reported receiving booklets that did not belong to them. Following these reports, the board conducted manual checks on about 13,000 answer scripts .
Answer Sheet Issues Identified
The OSM system, designed to digitize and streamline the evaluation process, encountered scanning quality issues. Out of nearly 98 lakh answer scripts scanned for the OSM portal, approximately 68,000 initially had quality problems. These scripts were re-scanned. Despite re-scanning efforts, over 13,000 copies remained unclear.
Experts from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras and IIT Kanpur are currently reviewing the OSM system. Their work focuses on improving the system's code and overall functionality to ensure smooth operation. The goal is to eliminate glitches and create a seamless evaluation process.
DigiLocker Availability for Students
Starting this year, CBSE will make exam answer sheets available on DigiLocker . Students will be able to access their scanned answer scripts alongside their mark sheets. This initiative aims to enhance transparency in the examination system.
The board selected COEMPT for its OSM system implementation. COEMPT submitted a bid of approximately Rs 24.75 per answer booklet . This was lower than the bid from Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), which quoted around Rs 65 per booklet.
Future of On-Screen Marking
CBSE officials stated that the OSM system promotes fair and transparent evaluation. They acknowledged that challenges are common when introducing new technologies. The board's commitment is to refine the system based on feedback and technical assessments.
