The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued an official clarification regarding its newly introduced On-Screen Marking (OSM) system after criticism emerged over the sharp decline in the Class 12 pass percentage this year. The overall pass percentage dropped to 85.2%, which is 3.19 percentage points lower than last year and the lowest recorded in the past seven years. Following widespread concern among students and parents, especially regarding marks in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics, the board stated that the OSM system was introduced to improve transparency, fairness, and consistency in evaluation.
Key Highlights
- CBSE defended the newly introduced OSM evaluation system.
- Class 12 pass percentage dropped to 85.2% in 2026.
- This is the lowest pass percentage in the last seven years.
- Science stream students reported major concerns over marks.
- Around 17.7 lakh students appeared for the Class 12 exams.
- Nearly 9.86 crore answer book pages were evaluated digitally.
- CBSE confirmed that the re-evaluation window will remain open.
- Students can obtain copies of evaluated answer books online.
- Teachers and principals gave mixed reactions to the OSM rollout.
- CBSE said auto-calculation in OSM reduces human error.
More Info
CBSE acknowledged the concerns raised across social media platforms after the declaration of the Class 12 board examination results. Many students expressed dissatisfaction with their scores, particularly in science subjects including Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
The board clarified through its official statement that the On-Screen Marking system was implemented to modernize the evaluation process and minimize manual mistakes. According to CBSE, the digital evaluation method ensures stepwise marking while automatically calculating totals to reduce human error.
The OSM system was deployed on a full scale for Class 12 examinations for the first time this year. Under this process, answer sheets were scanned and uploaded to a digital portal. Examiners checked responses online, entered marks digitally, and added annotations directly on-screen.
CBSE emphasized that students who are dissatisfied with their marks still have the right to apply for re-evaluation and verification of marks through the official procedure.
How to Apply for CBSE Re-Evaluation 2026
- Visit the official CBSE website.
- Open the re-evaluation or verification section.
- Login using roll number and required credentials.
- Apply for photocopy of evaluated answer sheet.
- Review the answer sheet carefully after downloading it.
- Identify any totaling or unchecked answer discrepancies.
- Submit a re-evaluation or verification request online.
- Pay the prescribed application fee.
- Download and save the confirmation receipt.
Pass Percentage, OSM and Evaluation Details
This year, around 17.7 lakh students appeared for the CBSE Class 12 board examinations. The number of candidates increased by nearly 76,000 compared to the previous year.
CBSE evaluated approximately 98,66,622 answer books through the On-Screen Marking system. The digital method replaced traditional physical checking in many evaluation centers.
According to the board, the key features of OSM include:
- Stepwise digital marking
- Online annotations
- Auto-calculation of totals
- Reduced manual totaling errors
- Improved transparency in evaluation
However, some school principals and teachers raised concerns about the implementation process.
A Delhi-based school principal stated that the rollout may have been rushed and many evaluators were not adequately trained, especially in government schools where digital familiarity varied significantly.
On the other hand, some teachers involved in the evaluation process supported the new system and said it reduced calculation mistakes and improved consistency.
Jyoti Arora, principal of Mount Abu School in Delhi, said that the decline in pass percentage may reflect stricter competency-based assessment and conceptual evaluation introduced under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 rather than problems with OSM alone.
What’s Next
CBSE is expected to continue reviewing feedback from schools, teachers, students, and parents regarding the digital evaluation process.
Students dissatisfied with their marks should regularly monitor the official CBSE portal for:
- Re-evaluation dates
- Verification schedules
- Answer sheet photocopy applications
- Final revised result updates
Education experts believe the board may introduce additional examiner training sessions and technical improvements before the next examination cycle.
Quick Reference Summary
| Details | Information |
| Board Name | Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) |
| Exam Name | CBSE Class 12 Board Exam 2026 |
| Pass Percentage | 85.2% |
| Decline From Last Year | 3.19 Percentage Points |
| Total Students Appeared | 17.7 Lakh |
| Evaluation Method | On-Screen Marking (OSM) |
| Re-Evaluation Facility | Available |
| Official Website | cbse.gov.in |
Frequently Asked Questions
| What is the CBSE OSM system? |
| The On-Screen Marking (OSM) system is a digital evaluation process where scanned answer sheets are checked online by examiners using computer systems. |
| Why did the CBSE Class 12 pass percentage drop in 2026? |
| The pass percentage dropped to 85.2%, which experts attribute to stricter competency-based evaluation, conceptual assessment, and the implementation of OSM. |
| Can students apply for re-evaluation in CBSE 2026? |
| Yes, CBSE has confirmed that students can apply for answer sheet photocopies, verification, and re-evaluation through the official process. |
| Which subjects received the most complaints from students? |
| Most complaints were related to Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics marks in the Science stream. |
| How does the OSM system reduce errors? |
| OSM automatically calculates totals and enables digital stepwise marking, reducing manual totaling mistakes during evaluation. |
| How many students appeared for the CBSE Class 12 exams in 2026? |
| Around 17.7 lakh students appeared for the Class 12 examinations this year, which was higher than the previous year. |
| What did teachers say about the OSM rollout? |
| Some teachers supported the system for reducing errors, while others felt the rollout was rushed and more training was needed. |
| Where can students check CBSE re-evaluation updates? |
| Students can check updates and apply online through the official CBSE website and result portal. |
CBSE’s clarification regarding the On-Screen Marking system comes at a crucial time as students and parents continue to question the sudden decline in Class 12 results. While the board maintains that the digital evaluation process improves fairness and reduces human error, mixed reactions from educators indicate that implementation challenges may still exist. Students who are dissatisfied with their marks should make full use of the re-evaluation and verification options provided by the board. As CBSE moves toward competency-based education under NEP 2020, further improvements in digital assessment and examiner training are expected in future board examinations, for more details CLICK HERE
