'Revaluation will begin and we are looking at solutions': Dharmendra Pradhan on CBSE OSM controversy

“A lot of issues have come to light. Nearly 17 lakh students took the exam, which led to around 98 lakh answer-sheets to be evaluated. As each sheet had 40-odd pages, we had to scan over 40 crore pages," Pradhan told reporters.

New Delhi: To address glaring issues of evaluation of class 12 answer sheets under the new onscreen marking system of the Central Board of Secondary Education, union minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday held meetings with officials of the Board.

He said that he takes responsibility for the glitches in the new system, and that the government is working on solutions.

“A lot of issues have come to light. Nearly 17 lakh students took the exam, which led to around 98 lakh answer-sheets to be evaluated. As each sheet had 40-odd pages, we had to scan over 40 crore pages.

"The CBSE tried the OSM system for the first time; the system is a progressive instrument, and several universities in India as well as institutions globally have used the method to evaluate papers,” Pradhan told reporters after his meeting.

Calling the system “student-centric”, Pradhan said that the system brought about transparency and let them see their answer sheets. “Now, this is the first time that the system has been implemented, and it has led to some concerns and complaints; I take responsibility for it. The re-evaluation will begin and we are looking at solutions; not a single student’s unanswered query or concern will remain unresolved,” Pradhan said. .

Even as complaints have poured in from several students who posted their grievances on social media, some students said that the CBSE has asked their schools to record students saying that the OSM system is flawless. There were videos doing the rounds, including some from Kendriya Vidyalayas where students were seen giving a clean chit to the system.

Pradhan has been under immense pressure and criticism, primarily from Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi who alleged that the company which was handed this responsibility, COEMPT, had “already pulled off the same stunt” in Telangana in 2019 under the name Globarena. He questioned why the was contract awarded to COEMPT, which rules were bypassed to do so, and why weren't background checks done on the company. He demanded an independent judicial inquiry.

Responding to Gandhi, Pradhan said on Thursday that Gandhi is “frustrated”. “He does not seem to stand with India’s scientific progress. As far as this issue is concerned, I myself take responsibility, and I request everyone that this is not the time for politics. Right now, the most important thing is that the mental stress of these students and examinees should not increase further,” Pradhan said.