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n a major development in the ongoing CBSE controversy across the country, the government has taken decisive action by removing the CBSE chairman and secretary from their posts. Lokhande Prashant Sitaram has been appointed as the new CBSE chairperson.
According to news agencies PTI and ANI, the government has transferred both officers to new positions.
According to ANI, the CBSE chairman and secretary have been transferred. The government has also constituted an inquiry committee to investigate the procurement of On-Screen Marking (OSM) services by CBSE.
Meanwhile, PTI reported that the government has transferred CBSE Chairman Rahul Singh and Secretary Himanshu Gupta, according to officials.
The officials against whom action has been taken are CBSE Chairman Rahul Singh (IAS) and Secretary Himanshu Gupta (IAS).
Following these changes, senior IAS officer Lokhande Prashant Sitaram has been appointed as the new Chairperson of CBSE, while Varun Bhardwaj has been appointed as the new Secretary of the board.
The controversy primarily stems from serious irregularities reported in the OSM (On-Screen Marking) system, including alleged mismatches between handwriting and answer sheets, poor scanning quality, negligence in the evaluation process, and the crashing of the re-evaluation portal. These issues have sparked widespread concern among students and parents across the country.
In response to the controversy, the government has constituted an inquiry committee and appointed S. Radha Chauhan as its chairperson. The committee will conduct a detailed investigation into how the tender for the OSM (On-Screen Marking) system was awarded to a private company, why adequate testing was not carried out before its implementation, and which officials were responsible for the alleged lapses and irregularities.
The Ministry of Education has deployed experts from IITs and IIMs to work on the re-evaluation portal and ensure that proper cyber audits are conducted to prevent any further technical issues or security lapses.
The government has extended the deadline for the re-evaluation process until June 6, 2026 (midnight), providing students with additional time to submit their applications.
Amid the CBSE controversy, opposition parties have been criticizing the government over its handling of the issue.
Opposition parties have expressed dissatisfaction over the transfer of the CBSE Chairman and Secretary, arguing that the move is insufficient. They have demanded the removal of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, holding the ministry accountable for the controversy.
In response to the case, the viral political outfit "Cockroach Janata Party" also reacted, saying, "Dismiss the education minister."
Meanwhile, AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal expressed dissatisfaction with the government's action. Reacting to the transfers, he wrote:
“What? CBSE Chairman and Secretary transferred? Bas? Is that the government's response to such a huge scandal? Is that a punishment or protection?”
On this issue, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh wrote on X:
“The CBSE Chairman and Secretary have been transferred. Justice requires that the Mantri Pradhan be sacked.
The CBSE leadership’s unceremonious exit and the constitution of the one-member committee to investigate the procurement of the CBSE’s On Screen Marking (OSM) system prove that irregularities were committed. This is a testament to the ingenuity and skill of Gen Z students - who exposed this scandal online and even presented to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education under the Chairmanship of Digvijaya Singh today.
Today’s action, clearly timed for after the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education’s meeting with the CBSE Board, is an attempt to distract and fix accountability on bureaucrats rather than the political leadership. It should be remembered that CBSE Chairperson Rahul Singh had been given a two-year extension by the Cabinet Committee on Appointments as recently as November 2025.
The Mantri Pradhan has been presiding over a monumentally corrupt, inept, and incompetent ecosystem that has played havoc with the lives of lakhs of youth. He needs to resign immediately.
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The controversy surrounding CBSE has sparked widespread anger across the country. Opposition parties have been targeting the government over the issue, demanding accountability for the alleged irregularities. Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been meeting with CBSE Class 12 students to understand the problems they faced and gather their feedback on the examination and evaluation process.
