Education
New CBSE Leadership Takes Charge Amid Focus on Digital Reforms
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved key leadership changes in the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and other central government departments. The appointments come at a crucial time as CBSE continues to address concerns related to its digital infrastructure and post-result services.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved a series of senior-level appointments, including key changes in the leadership of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).
According to an official notification, Lokhande Prashant Sitaram has been appointed as the new Chairperson of CBSE under the Ministry of Education. The appointment marks a significant change in the board’s leadership at a time when it is implementing reforms and strengthening its examination and digital systems.
In another major appointment, Rahul Singh has been named Additional Secretary in the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
The ACC has also approved the appointment of Varun Bhardwaj as Secretary of CBSE. An Indian Information Service officer (IInfOS), Bhardwaj previously served as Director in the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education. He will take over from Himanshu Gupta, who has been repatriated to his parent cadre on administrative grounds.
According to the official memorandum, Varun Bhardwaj’s appointment will continue until September 19, 2027, as part of his combined tenure under the Central Staffing Scheme. The appointment has been made on a deputation basis through a lateral shift arrangement.
The ACC also approved the premature repatriation of Himanshu Gupta to the Ministry of Home Affairs, his parent cadre, with conditions related to an extended cooling-off period.
The leadership transition comes amid heightened public attention on CBSE’s functioning following reports of technical issues affecting post-result services and concerns raised by students regarding answer-sheet evaluation under the On-Screen Marking (OSM) system. The board has recently undertaken several initiatives to strengthen cybersecurity, improve transparency, and enhance the reliability of its digital platforms.
Officials expect the new leadership team to play a key role in overseeing examination reforms, digital infrastructure upgrades, and policy implementation within one of India’s largest educational institutions.
