Education
Rahul Gandhi Raises Concerns About CBSE’s On-Screen Marking Process
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday targeted the Centre over the CBSE’s re-evaluation process, arguing that students should not be required to pay additional fees to correct mistakes made during evaluation. He also questioned the functioning of the Board’s On-Screen Marking system and called for greater accountability in the examination process.
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Monday launched a sharp attack on the Narendra Modi-led government over the Central Board of Secondary Education’s (CBSE) re-evaluation mechanism and the fees charged to students seeking corrections in their examination results.
Sharing a video from his interaction with CBSE students who allegedly faced issues related to the Board’s On-Screen Marking (OSM) system, Gandhi questioned why students should bear the financial burden of rectifying errors that may have occurred during the evaluation process.
In a post on social media platform X, Gandhi alleged that students are required to pay multiple charges even when discrepancies arise from mistakes in the assessment process. He highlighted the fees associated with obtaining digital scanned copies of answer sheets, re-totalling of marks, and re-evaluation of specific questions.
According to Gandhi, the current system reflects a broader problem in which education is increasingly being treated as a commercial activity rather than a public service. He argued that such an approach places unnecessary pressure on students and their families while raising concerns about transparency and accountability in the examination process.
The Congress leader also used the issue to criticize the government’s education policies, contending that students should have access to fair and affordable grievance redressal mechanisms when contesting examination results.
The remarks come amid ongoing discussions about examination reforms, digital evaluation systems, and the need for greater transparency in assessment procedures. The CBSE has not immediately responded to Gandhi’s latest comments.
The issue is likely to spark debate among students, parents, educators, and policymakers regarding the balance between administrative costs and ensuring that students are not disadvantaged by potential evaluation errors.