Andalib Akhter / New Delhi
The controversy surrounding the Central Board of Secondary Education’s (CBSE) On-Screen Marking (OSM) system reached Parliament on Tuesday, with the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education convening a crucial meeting to examine allegations of discrepancies in the evaluation process and their implications for lakhs of students across the country.
The committee, headed by veteran Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Digvijaya Singh, reviewed concerns raised over the assessment system following the declaration of Class XII results, amid growing criticism from students and parents regarding the transparency and accuracy of the marking process.
At the centre of the deliberations was Ranchi-based Class XII student Sarthak Siddhant, whose detailed analysis of the evaluation system triggered a nationwide debate and brought the issue into the spotlight. Accompanied by his mother, uncle and younger brother, Sarthak appeared before the panel and submitted a 12-page presentation highlighting what he described as serious anomalies in the assessment process.
His findings have resonated with students across several states and intensified demands for greater accountability and transparency in the conduct of board examinations.
Speaking after the meeting, Digvijaya Singh said the committee was concerned about issues affecting students’ academic futures and had initiated discussions to ascertain the facts surrounding the controversy.
Senior officials, including CBSE Chairman Rahul Singh and the School Education Secretary from the Ministry of Education, attended the meeting and briefed members on the board’s evaluation mechanism and the concerns raised by students.
The parliamentary panel is expected to continue its examination of the matter and may recommend measures to strengthen the credibility and transparency of the country’s premier school examination system.