CBSE Goes Digital: Class 12 Board Exam Answer Sheets to Be Evaluated On-Screen

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced that Class 12 board exam answer sheets will be evaluated through an On-Screen Marking (OSM) system starting with the 2026 examination. This move is aimed at improving efficiency, accuracy, and transparency.

No Change for Class 10

The new system will be implemented for Class 12 board examinations beginning February 17, 2026. Under OSM, evaluators will assess scanned copies of answer scripts on a secure digital platform instead of checking physical answer books. CBSE clarified that the traditional physical evaluation process for Class 10 examinations will continue unchanged in 2026.

CBSE conducts Class 10 and 12 examinations annually for nearly 46 lakh students in India and across 26 countries. Officials claim that the transition to on-screen marking for senior secondary exams will significantly streamline the assessment process. According to the Board, OSM will eliminate common manual errors such as incorrect totalling of marks, automate coordination tasks, and substantially reduce the need for human intervention.

Letter Sent to School Principals 

In an official communication to school principals, CBSE’s Controller of Examinations, Sanyam Bhardwaj, outlined the key advantages of the digital system. He noted that faster evaluation timelines, improved accuracy, and wider participation of teachers are among the expected benefits. With OSM, teachers will be able to evaluate answer scripts from their own schools, reducing disruptions to regular teaching schedules and avoiding the need for travel to centralized evaluation centres.

The Board also highlighted the cost and environmental benefits of the move. By cutting down on the transportation and storage of physical answer books, CBSE expects to save time and resources while supporting more sustainable practices. Additionally, the digital system is designed to make post-result processes more efficient. Once OSM is fully implemented, post-result mark verification is expected to become largely redundant, further reducing administrative workload and workforce requirements.

The introduction of on-screen marking places CBSE among examination bodies globally that are increasingly adopting digital solutions to manage large-scale assessments, signalling a broader transformation in how board examinations are conducted and evaluated in the years ahead.