The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced the introduction of On-Screen Marking (OSM) for the evaluation of Class 12 board examination answer sheets starting from 2026, marking a significant shift towards digital assessment aimed at improving efficiency, speed and transparency in the evaluation process.

CBSE clarified that while Class 12 answer books will be evaluated digitally, Class 10 answer sheets will continue to be checked in physical mode for the 2026 examinations. The Board conducts Class 10 and 12 exams across India and 26 countries, catering to nearly 46 lakh students, making evaluation a massive logistical exercise each year.

Announcing the decision, Dr Sanyam Bhardwaj, Controller of Examinations, CBSE, said the move is part of the Board’s continuous efforts to modernise examination systems. According to CBSE, OSM will eliminate totalling errors through automatic calculation of marks, reduce manual coordination, cut down post-result verification delays, and allow teachers from CBSE-affiliated schools across the country and abroad to participate in evaluation remotely.

Also Read: Rijiju Accuses Congress of "Most Degrading Behaviour" in Parliament Confrontation Video

To ensure smooth implementation, CBSE has instructed schools to be technically prepared with adequate infrastructure. This includes computer labs with public static IPs, systems running Windows 8 or above with at least 4 GB RAM, updated browsers, Adobe Reader, stable internet connectivity of at least 2 Mbps, and uninterrupted power supply. Teachers will be able to evaluate answer books from their own schools while continuing their regular academic duties.

The Board said it will support schools and teachers during the transition by conducting training programmes and dry runs and releasing instructional videos, along with setting up a dedicated call centre for issue resolution. CBSE Board examinations for Classes 10 and 12 will be held from February 17 to April 10, with the Board also confirming that Class 10 exams will be conducted twice a year from 2026, making the February session mandatory and scheduling the second exam between May 15 and June 1, both following the same syllabus.

Also Read: Road Rage Turns Fatal: Group Knifes Akansh Sahu to Death in Madhya Pradesh