NSUI demands overhaul of CBSE OSM system, stages protest in Delhi

The protest was outside the CBSE headquarters in Delhi. PIC/PTI

The NSUI on Saturday staged a protest outside the CBSE headquarters, alleging irregularities in the board's On-Screen Marking (OSM) evaluation system and demanding greater transparency in the assessment process.

Led by National Students' Unions of India (NSUI) national president Vinod Jakhar, students and party activists participated in the demonstration, raising slogans against the evaluation mechanism and alleging that several students had received marks that did not reflect their performance in examinations.

The protesters claimed that discrepancies in the marking process had caused anxiety among students and parents and sought accountability from Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) officials.

NSUI head Vinod Jakhar protests alongside other students. PIC/PTI

Among their key demands were the discontinuation of the current OSM system, a transparent and student-friendly re-evaluation process, and safeguards to protect students' academic interests and mental well-being.

Addressing the gathering, Jakhar said, "Thousands of students across the country are suffering because of a careless and insensitive evaluation system. The OSM process has created confusion, injustice and distrust among students." He also warned of intensified protests if students' concerns were not addressed.

Jairam Ramesh. PIC/PTI

This comes after authorities confirmed earlier that the CBSE revaluation portal's payment system was hit by a "malicious attack", with around 50 students getting affected. The issue led to abnormal fee displays on the portal, where the payable amount in some cases fluctuated from around Rs 1 to nearly Rs 67,000-Rs 68,000.

The Congress on Saturday, also alleged an "astonishing mix of incompetence, corruption, and callousness" marked the CBSE's planning and implementation of the Class 12 Board exams, reiterating its demand for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation and a full CBI probe into the "emerging scandal".

In a post on X, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh referred to media reports and posted 10 questions, saying parents and students were seeking answers from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, "who is, according to the Solicitor General, personally supervising this mess".