NSUI Seeks Delhi High Court Intervention Over CBSE’s Digital Evaluation System

The National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) has moved the Delhi High Court, demanding an independent investigation into alleged irregularities in the Central Board of Secondary Education’s (CBSE) On-Screen Marking (OSM) system used for evaluating Class XII board examination answer sheets. The petition raises concerns over the reliability, transparency and implementation of the digital assessment process, which was introduced as part of CBSE’s efforts to modernize examination evaluation.

Filed as a public interest litigation, the plea alleges that the OSM system has been affected by multiple technical and procedural shortcomings. According to the petition, students from various parts of the country have reported issues including incomplete visibility of answer scripts, evaluation discrepancies and difficulties in seeking corrections through the existing grievance redressal mechanism. The student organization argues that these problems may have adversely impacted the results of a large number of candidates.

NSUI has urged the court to order an independent inquiry into the functioning of the system and assess whether technical failures or administrative lapses influenced the evaluation process. The organization has also sought directions for manual verification and rechecking of answer sheets in cases where students have raised specific concerns regarding their marks.

In addition, the petition requests the extension of deadlines for verification and re-evaluation applications, arguing that students require adequate time to identify and challenge potential errors. The plea contends that transparency and accountability are essential when dealing with examinations that play a crucial role in students’ academic and professional futures.

The matter has gained attention following protests by NSUI members outside CBSE offices, where demonstrators demanded greater clarity regarding the functioning of the digital evaluation system. The controversy has also sparked broader discussions on the challenges associated with the transition from conventional paper-based assessment methods to technology-driven evaluation processes.

The Delhi High Court is expected to consider the petition in the coming days. The court’s decision could have significant implications for CBSE’s examination framework and may influence future reforms in the board’s digital assessment practices.