CBSE damage control handbook: Board sends social media toolkit to principals to defend OSM, says report | Today’s news
The Central Board of Secondary Education sent out a scripted social media toolkit to school principals this week, ordering them to publicly defend their controversial on-screen marking system, with hundreds of institutions including government-run Kendriya Vidyalayas and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas subsequently posting videos reflecting the board’s talking points, according to a Hindustan Times investigation.
Titled “Material for Principals” and seen by HT, the document contained ready-made scripts for principals to read on camera, including instructions to describe CBSE as “highly proactive, empathetic and communicative about these initial issues”.
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The toolkit was reportedly distributed through the board’s regional offices and came as the CBSE faced growing criticism over errors and irregularities in its on-screen marking system, known as OSM, used for Class 12 exams.
A senior official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Hindustan Times, “We have not directed anyone to release any video in our favor.”
Journalist Mohammed Zubair shared a compilation video of those he posted on his X account.
What the CBSE Toolkit reportedly asked principals to say
Written material directed principals to address students’ specific language problems. One of the takeaways read: “As with the introduction of any technology on such an unprecedented scale, I know a few implementation shocks have raised concerns… Please don’t panic. I want to assure every student and parent that no child will suffer because of a technical error.”
Principals have also been asked to advise students that if they find a “discrepancy between your performance and your reflection on the digital sheet”, they should use the CBSE’s official revaluation process rather than raise public concerns.
The document goes on to say: “From an academic perspective, the OSM system has fundamentally improved the structural integrity of our assessments… It frees up our assessors to focus strictly on content rather than arithmetic, paving the way for a more standardised, transparent and green assessment process in line with the National Education Policy.”
Which schools posted videos and what did they say?
Several videos, mostly Instagram reels, reviewed by HT showed principals and students repeating phrases that closely mirrored the language in the circulated document.
A video posted by Air Force Station Gorakhpur’s No. 1 Kendriya Vidyalaya featured a Class 12 student advocating the system. “I am happy with my marks that I got in all subjects. The problems that students are facing is a new phenomenon, similar problems are faced by students every year. I don’t think OSM is the problem,” said the student.
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Principal Barrister Pandey told HT that the video reflected the school’s own position and denied that it followed the toolkit. “Students can share their views in the controversy and it was the decision of our school staff that we should post our students’ opinion on OSM on social media,” Pandey said.
Abhimanyu Bhatt, principal, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Jajpur, posted a video saying, “OSM is a very good initiative by CBSE… proper evaluation of answers was done… teachers had plenty of time to read everything. Class 10 students should also benefit from OSM in the coming years.”
Anisha Sharma, principal of Delhi Public School Siliguri, said in the video that OSM was introduced “with a positive outlook, keeping in mind that the assessment will be fair, accurate, faster and transparent”, using phrases that appeared verbatim in the toolkit document.
Not every director followed the script
At least one director declined to participate. A principal of a Delhi-based private school, requesting anonymity, told HT that the document was sent directly by the head of the regional office, but they chose not to comply.
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“I saw that Instagram was flooded with principals supporting CBSE and the OSM process, despite knowing very well the problems it caused to students. The document ‘Materials for Principals’ was sent to me by the head of our regional office. However, I feel that we should express the students’ concern, stress and agony as their careers are at stake. That’s why I said I did not make any video on OSM faour CBvSE,” the OSM director said.
How widespread is student concern over CBSE on-screen marking?
The extent of student anxiety over the OSM system is reflected in the reassessment data. As of May 26, nearly one in four of the approximately 1.8 million students who took the Class 12 exam had requested scanned copies of their answer sheets, an increase of over 208 percent compared to the previous year. The CBSE attributed part of this increase to the sharp cut in application fees that was announced on 17 May.
NEET-UG paper leak: CBI arrests rise to 13
The controversy over the toolkit coincides with a separate and serious crisis in India’s examination system. The Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested 13 people in connection with the alleged paper leak in the NEET-UG 2026 entrance medical examination, including the two arrested on Wednesday.
The newly arrested persons are Manoj Shirure, a doctor from Latur, and Tejas Harshadkumar Shah, a member of the physics faculty of Dr. Abhang Prabhu Medical Academy, a coaching institute in Pune. Shirure is accused of helping three students, including the son of the owner of the coaching center, who is already in custody, in obtaining the leaked chemistry questions. Shah is accused of obtaining leaked physics questions from a separately arrested accused.
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“Investigation to unearth the chain as well as the conspiracy in this case is on. CBI has so far conducted searches at 49 places at various locations and seized several incriminating documents, laptops and mobile phones. A detailed analysis of the seized items is underway,” the CBI said in a statement.
The case was registered on 12 May 2026 following a formal complaint by the Ministry of Higher Education. On Friday, Parliament’s Standing Committee on Government Assurances is due to meet to hear from the Higher Education Secretary, the Director General of the National Testing Agency and senior officials from the CBI and the Department of Health.
