The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) announced on Sunday that it will issue refunds to students who were overcharged during the class 12 post-result process due to technical issues. This decision comes after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan sought a detailed report from CBSE over complaints of technical glitches faced by students during the re-evaluation process. The board has now confirmed that all cases of excess payment will receive refunds, providing clarity to students who encountered technical issues during the application process. The official notice dated 24 May 2026 was issued by Controller of Examinations Dr. Sanyam Bhardwaj, confirming that corrective steps are being taken to ensure smoother handling of post-result services going forward.
As reported by NDTV, the CBSE identified that on May 21 and 22, certain technical issues led to incorrect fee deductions in some cases while students were applying for scanned copies of evaluated answer books. The board stated that in some instances, excess payment was deducted, while in others, lesser amounts were charged. The technical issues were attributed to exceptionally high traffic on the portal during peak periods. In response to student complaints, CBSE reduced the fee from ₹700 per subject to ₹100 per paper, addressing the financial burden on students. However, students continue to face challenges with the re-evaluation portal, with many reporting delays in receiving acknowledgement receipts for payments.
Class 12 students across the country are experiencing significant delays in the re-evaluation process, with many waiting for days to receive scanned answer sheets. Radha, a Class 12 student, has been waiting for two days to receive her scanned answer sheets, highlighting the operational challenges. Prashant, a parent of a Class 12 student in Chennai, noted that his son had applied for scanned copies of all five subjects but there was a day's delay in getting a payment receipt. The download button on the website for answer sheets and receipts has not been functional, adding to student frustration. Students have taken to social media to air grievances, with many noting blurry images of their scanned copies, half marks awarded to MCQs, and notification of blank pages on written answer sheets. These technical issues are making students anxious about their re-totalling attempts and affecting their college admission prospects.
The introduction of the On-Screen Marking (OSM) system for Class 12 public exams this year has introduced new complexities to the re-evaluation process. Through this system, Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) are marked by the software while the answer sheets are scanned and uploaded, with evaluation teachers checking images and awarding marks using the marking system. However, students are reporting issues with the system, including blurry images of scanned copies and notification of blank pages on written answer sheets. Education experts suggest that the OSM system should have been implemented on a pilot basis and in a more controlled format, noting that it could have been rolled out for just one subject to avoid public frustration. The system's implementation has added to the overall complexity of the re-evaluation process.
