New Delhi: In a move aimed at easing student anxiety over the On-Screen Marking (OSM) system, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Sunday announced a sharp reduction in fees for answer sheet access, verification, and re-evaluation.
The board also strongly defended OSM as a globally accepted, transparent method of assessment.
Under the revised structure, the fee for obtaining a scanned copy of an evaluated answer sheet has been slashed from Rs 700 to Rs 100 per subject. Verification charges have dropped from Rs 500 to Rs 100, while re-evaluation now costs just Rs 25 per question, down from Rs 100.
The changes follow widespread concerns among students and teachers after this year's Class XII pass percentage dipped from 88% to 85%, prompting questions about whether digital evaluation impacted scores.
CBSE officials stressed that OSM, first piloted in 2014, was rolled out nationwide only after significant upgrades in scanning infrastructure and examiner training. They highlighted its benefits in reducing totalling errors, enhancing security, and standardising evaluation.
School Education Secretary Sanjay Kumar clarified that there is "no direct correlation" between OSM and the decline in pass rates. Students can apply for scanned copies between May 19-22, and for verification or re-evaluation between May 26-29.