Indian authorities have removed the top leadership of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) after a major controversy erupted over grading errors and alleged flaws in a newly introduced digital marking system used in this year’s high school examinations.
Image: Rediff
According to official orders issued on Tuesday, CBSE Chairman Rahul Singh and Secretary Himanshu Gupta have been transferred to other government departments following mounting criticism from students, parents and education activists.
The controversy began after 19-year-old cybersecurity researcher Nisarga Adhikary claimed that vulnerabilities in the board’s online marking system could compromise the accuracy of exam results. The CBSE had introduced the digital evaluation system this year to improve efficiency and accuracy in the grading process.
However, many students reported receiving incorrect grades, while some alleged that results had been assigned to the wrong candidates. Nearly 1.8 million students appeared in the CBSE Class 12 examinations, making it one of India’s largest school-level assessments.
In response to the complaints, the CBSE acknowledged certain vulnerabilities in the system, stating that the issues had been contained. The board also launched a re-evaluation portal to allow students to challenge and review their results.
The incident has triggered widespread anger across the country, with students and activists demanding greater accountability from education authorities. Calls have also been made for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
