Students across India have called for a manual re‑evaluation of CBSE's On‑Screen Marking after reporting unexpected low marks in the 2026 Class 12 results.
Thousands of CBSE Class 12 candidates have reported lower‑than‑expected marks in core science subjects and are demanding a manual re‑evaluation of the On‑Screen Marking (OSM) system. The board has acknowledged the complaints and said it will review the issue while admissions processes continue.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) released the Class 12 results for the 2026 examination cycle on 13 May 2026, showing an overall pass percentage of 85.20 percent [3]. Within days, students from science and commerce streams began posting on social media that their scores in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics were markedly lower than anticipated [1][2]. The complaints triggered a coordinated demand for the board to roll back the OSM system and revert to manual marking or apply grace marks [2].
The primary stakeholders are the students who sat for the examinations, their parents, and the CBSE administration responsible for result compilation. The OSM system, introduced by CBSE to digitise answer‑sheet evaluation, was employed for the 2026 Class 12 papers [1]. Students allege that the algorithmic marking introduced errors, resulting in unexpected score reductions [4].
Parents have organized petitions and online campaigns urging the board to re‑evaluate the papers manually [2].
Student and Parent Response
Students from CBSE‑affiliated schools across India reported discrepancies primarily in the science subjects, where the drop in marks was most pronounced [1]. On platforms such as Twitter and Instagram, hashtags like #RollbackOSM and #CBSEReevaluate trended, with participants sharing screenshots of their scorecards and requesting immediate corrective action [2].
Student and Parent Response Students from CBSE‑affiliated schools across India reported discrepancies primarily in the science subjects, where the drop in marks was most pronounced [1].
Parents have submitted formal letters to regional CBSE offices, citing specific instances where answer keys appeared mismatched with awarded marks [4]. Several parent‑teacher associations have called for an emergency meeting with board officials to discuss the possibility of applying grace marks to affected candidates [2]. The collective pressure has led to heightened media coverage and a surge in inquiries to school administrations regarding the status of individual results [3].
CBSE’s Position and Administrative Actions
CBSE Class 12 Students Call for Rollback of On‑Screen Marking After Result Discrepancies
CBSE officials confirmed that the OSM system was used for the 2026 Class 12 examinations, citing its role in expediting the evaluation of over 1.5 million answer sheets [1]. In a statement released on 15 May 2026, the board acknowledged receipt of “numerous grievances” and announced the formation of a technical review committee to audit the OSM process [3].
The board has indicated that it will conduct a “targeted manual re‑checking” of papers flagged by students and schools, prioritising subjects with the highest volume of complaints [2]. CBSE also noted that it would consider applying standard grace marks, as per its existing policy, should the audit reveal systemic errors [4]. No formal decision on a complete rollback of OSM has been announced as of 19 May 2026 [2].
Impact on Students and Higher‑Education Admissions
The immediate impact on students is uncertainty regarding their final scores, which directly affect eligibility for undergraduate programs in engineering, medicine, commerce, and allied fields [3]. Universities that rely on CBSE results for admission cut‑offs have indicated they will provisionally accept the published marks while the board’s review is underway [4].
For students awaiting seat allocation through national counselling platforms such as JoSAA and NEET counselling, the pending review may delay final seat confirmation [1]. Schools have advised students to retain their original scorecards and to monitor official CBSE communications for any updates on re‑evaluation outcomes [2].
The controversy also places pressure on CBSE to reassess its digital evaluation framework. If the board proceeds with manual re‑checking or grace marks, it may set a precedent for future examinations, influencing how technology‑driven assessment tools are deployed across Indian education boards [3].
Key Facts
Impact on Students and Higher‑Education Admissions The immediate impact on students is uncertainty regarding their final scores, which directly affect eligibility for undergraduate programs in engineering, medicine, commerce, and allied fields [3].
What: CBSE Class 12 students demand a rollback of the On‑Screen Marking system after reporting low marks.
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