Government Appoints New CBSE Leadership
CBSE Gets New Leadership Amid On-Screen Marking Review: The Central Government has appointed Lokhande Prashant Sitaram as the new Chairperson of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and Varun Bhardwaj as the Secretary of CBSE.
The appointments come at a time when the On-Screen Marking (OSM) system is under review following complaints related to evaluation discrepancies, technical glitches, and delays in the verification process.
Static GK Fact: CBSE functions under the Ministry of Education and is India’s largest national-level school education board.
Lokhande Prashant Sitaram Becomes CBSE Chairperson
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the appointment of Lokhande Prashant Sitaram, a 2001-batch IAS officer of the AGMUT cadre, as the new Chairperson of CBSE.
Before this appointment, he served as Additional Secretary in the Department of Home, Ministry of Home Affairs. He succeeds Rahul Singh, who has been appointed as Additional Secretary in the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
Varun Bhardwaj Appointed CBSE Secretary
The Government has also appointed Varun Bhardwaj, a 2008-batch Indian Information Service (IIS) officer, as the new Secretary of CBSE.
Earlier, he served as Director in the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education. He replaces Himanshu Gupta, who has been repatriated to his parent cadre under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
According to the official order, Varun Bhardwaj will serve as CBSE Secretary until 19 September 2027 under the Central Staffing Scheme.
What is the On-Screen Marking (OSM) System?
The On-Screen Marking (OSM) system is a digital evaluation process used by CBSE to assess answer sheets for board examinations.
The system was introduced to improve evaluation speed, transparency, and accuracy by enabling examiners to assess scanned answer scripts electronically instead of using physical copies.
However, concerns have recently been raised regarding technical issues, delayed verification results, and alleged inconsistencies in the evaluation process.
Static GK Tip: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) is responsible for appointments to senior positions in the Government of India and is chaired by the Prime Minister.
Government Orders Inquiry into OSM
Following complaints from students and parents, the Government has ordered an inquiry into the procurement and implementation of the On-Screen Marking (OSM) system.
The review aims to examine the functioning of the digital evaluation process and recommend improvements to ensure transparency, reliability, and fairness in board examinations.
About the Central Board of Secondary Education
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is India’s premier national school education board responsible for conducting Class 10 and Class 12 board examinations.
Established in 1929, CBSE is affiliated with more than 30,000 schools in India and abroad. It plays a crucial role in setting academic standards, curriculum development, and school education reforms.
Static GK Fact: CBSE was reconstituted in 1962 to serve schools under the Central Government, including Kendriya Vidyalayas and later Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas.
Static Usthadian Current Affairs Table
CBSE Gets New Leadership Amid On-Screen Marking Review:
| Fact | Detail |
| Topic | Appointment of New CBSE Chairperson and Secretary |
| Chairperson | Lokhande Prashant Sitaram |
| Secretary | Varun Bhardwaj |
| Approved By | Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) |
| Parent Ministry | Ministry of Education |
| OSM Full Form | On-Screen Marking |
| OSM Purpose | Digital evaluation of board examination answer sheets |
| CBSE Established | 1929 |
| CBSE Affiliation | More than 30,000 schools in India and abroad |
| Static GK | CBSE functions under the Ministry of Education and conducts Class 10 and Class 12 Board examinations. |
