CBSE Faces Criticism Over Class 12 Re-evaluation Process Delays

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is facing backlash over its handling of the Class 12 re-evaluation process. Despite promises of reform, the application portal for re-evaluation has been plagued by technical issues, leaving students anxious. Initially set to launch on June 1st, the portal remains inaccessible, exacerbating the challenges students face in obtaining their answer sheets. With over 400,000 requests for photocopies, the situation highlights the urgent need for CBSE to address these administrative shortcomings. This article delves into the details of the ongoing issues and the implications for students.

By Ambika Singh Jun 1, 2026, 12:31 IST

Issues with CBSE's Administration

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is under scrutiny for its poor management, which has intensified the challenges faced by both students and their families. Despite the board's assertions of implementing reforms, the situation remains problematic. The current concern centers on the re-evaluation process for Class 12 answer sheets. Although CBSE announced that the application portal would be operational starting June 1st, it remained inaccessible due to being in 'maintenance mode' as the day progressed, heightening students' stress levels.

Understanding the Re-evaluation Process

Initially, CBSE had planned to kick off the re-evaluation process for Class 12 answer sheets on June 29th. This announcement was made by Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan amid a controversy regarding the availability of scanned answer sheets. However, a new directive from CBSE indicated that the application portal would open on June 1st to facilitate a transparent and efficient process.

Challenges in Accessing Scanned Answer Sheets

Students faced numerous obstacles while trying to obtain scanned copies of their Class 12 answer sheets. The application portal was launched on May 19th, with a deadline of May 22nd. Unfortunately, the portal was non-functional on its first day, prompting CBSE to extend the deadline to May 23rd. Even on the second day, the portal was down until after 2:00 PM, and students struggled with fee payment issues. Complaints arose regarding discrepancies in answer sheets, including blurred scans and missing documents. Despite these challenges, CBSE continued to extend application deadlines, and the Union Ministry of Education pledged support to the affected students. The board has now introduced On-Screen Marking (OSM) to improve the process.

High Demand for Answer Sheet Photocopies

As of May 26, CBSE reported receiving 404,319 applications for scanned answer sheets, with students collectively requesting photocopies of 1,131,961 sheets. The board successfully provided digital copies of 898,214 answer sheets to students.