In a social media post, Gandhi linked the CBSE Class 12 assessment class to what he called a broader pattern of suppression of dissent under the Modi government.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday launched a sharp attack on the Center over the controversy over CBSE’s on-screen marking (OSM) system and other alleged irregularities, accusing the government of ignoring students’ concerns. He said the government is labeling youth voices as “anti-national” to cast doubt on the evaluation process.
In a social media post, Gandhi linked ongoing criticism over Class 12 board exam assessment to what he described as a broader pattern of repression of dissent under the Modi government.
Read also | IITs and PSUs stepped in as glitches in CBSE re-evaluation hit students, leading to cost of admission in foreign universities.
“The Modi-Shah duo has turned yet another institution into a symbol of fraud,” Gandhi wrote, referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Rahul Gandhi cites students’ complaints about assessment
The Congressman said that serious questions have emerged about the CBSE board examination process this year, especially after some students reported alleged discrepancies linked to the OSM assessment system.
“For the first time in decades, such serious questions have been raised about the CBSE board exams. 18.5 lakh children took the exam – and for a week now, complaints of OSM, wrong marks and assessment glitches have gone unheard, while the Education Minister clings to his chair,” Gandhi said, taking aim at Minister Dharmendra Pradhan who has also been in the limelight for the leak of NEET-UG papers.
“Modi government fears Generation Z”
Gandhi also claimed that the government was uncomfortable with youth raising questions openly. “The truth is that the Modi government fears the youth and Generation Z, because they are now asking questions. Anyone who asks questions, this government denigrates, intimidates and crushes,” he wrote.
What is controversy?
The controversy erupted after several students and parents started posting complaints online alleging inconsistencies in the digital assessment process. Among the concerns raised were “fuzzy” scanned copies of answer sheets, arithmetical errors in marking, and answers that students claimed had not been graded.
The issue gained momentum as students shared their highlighted answer sheets on social media while demanding re-evaluation.
CBSE did not explicitly react to the claims regarding answer sheets and handwriting “mismatch”. However, the Education Ministry has roped in IITs and PSUs to help iron out other kinks in the online revaluation process.
It is worth noting that one of the students identified as Vedant took to social media and stated that the physics mark filed against him is not his name. “After receiving unexpectedly low marks in Physics, we applied for copies of my answer sheets through the CBSE revaluation process. Today we received the copies. I am devastated that the Physics answer sheet uploaded by CBSE is not mine,” she said.
What the Department of CBSE Education said
Even as criticism mounted, CBSE and union education ministry officials defended the new technology-driven assessment process earlier this week, arguing that the system ensures greater transparency and objectivity in assessment.
Read also | Wrong totals, unclear scans, web glitches: Questions rise across CBSE’s OSM system
Sanjay Kumar, Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy, said in a press conference on Sunday that fluctuations in Class 12 results were not new and that relaxations in the pandemic era had earlier inflated pass rates. “The system is now stabilizing, and the marking process has become much more objective,” Kumar said.
IITs and PSU banks to help with glitches
Apart from assessment-related complaints, students also reported frequent technical errors on the re-assessment portal. Many have claimed that the website frequently crashes while paying and placing the order.
Read also | What is the on-screen marking system in the middle of the class for CBSE Class 12 results?
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday directed teams of technical experts from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras and IIT Kanpur, along with public sector banks (PSUs) to help CBSE in resolving glitches, including payments in the post-results services portal.
CBSE held the Class 12 board exams between February 17 and April 10, with the results declared on May 13. Under the council’s newly introduced digital assessment process, OSM, the overall pass rate for Class 12 fell to 85.20% – down 3.19 percentage points from last year’s 88.39%. This number is the lowest recorded since 2019, when the success rate reached 83.40%.
Shivya Kanojia is a journalist at Hindustan Times, where she works in the fast-paced digital news ecosystem with a strong sense of editorial judgment and a clear understanding of what makes a story important and action-driven. An alumnus of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Shivya strikes a thoughtful balance between news value and audience relevance to her work, ensuring that stories resonate beyond the immediate headlines. Over the course of her three-year journey in digital news, Shivya has worked across a wide range of industries, including politics, civic issues, human interest features and trending news. This diverse exposure has shaped her ability to engage with stories with nuance, adaptability and context, whether she is analyzing complex developments or shedding light on everyday narratives that often go unnoticed. She is particularly drawn to human interest stories, interviews and explanations that provide depth and clarity, and aims to go beyond superficial reporting to explore the people, emotions and circumstances behind the news. Before joining Hindustan Times, Shivya worked with Firstpost and Times Now, where she covered a wide range of topics and honed her skills in digital journalism. Outside of the newsroom, Shivya enjoys discovering new cafés, drawn to good coffee, cozy spaces, and thoughtful conversation. Shopping is another hobby she cherishes, not always out of necessity, but often guided by instinct and the simple joy of making unexpected finds. Above all, she values the time she spends with her loved ones, finding meaning in shared laughter, simple moments and memories that last a long time.Read more
