CBSE to roll out on-screen marking for Class 12 from 2026
Thousands of Grade 12 students across the UAE and beyond will see a faster, more transparent evaluation cycle from 2026. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has confirmed it will introduce On-Screen Marking (OSM) for Class 12 answer books, while Class 10 checks remain physical in 2026. The Board says OSM removes totalling errors, speeds up processing, and involves more trained examiners across its global network.
CBSE On-Screen Marking: what changes in 2026
OSM is a digital evaluation workflow in which scanned answer scripts are marked on secure computers. Automated tools handle arithmetic checks and tabulation, while teachers retain academic judgement. According to the CBSE circular dated February 9, 2026, the shift targets faster results, less manual handling, and more consistency across centres. Post-result verification of marks will “no longer be required,” the circular notes. However, Class 10 continues in physical mode for 2026.
Why CBSE says the new system matters
The Board lists clear operational gains: quicker evaluation, fewer transport delays, reduced costs, and broader teacher participation, including from schools outside India. It also frames OSM as an environmentally sustainable move that lets teachers mark without leaving their schools for long periods. This aligns with a wider push to modernise assessments while keeping human oversight at the core.
What schools must get ready
CBSE has asked affiliated schools to ensure specific technical readiness. Each evaluation centre needs a computer lab with a public static IP, reliable internet at a minimum of 2 Mbps, and an uninterrupted power supply. Systems must run Windows 8 or higher, with at least 4 GB RAM and 1 GB free on the C: drive. Updated browsers (Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Internet Explorer) and Adobe Reader are required. These specifications underpin smooth scanning, viewing and marking of scripts at scale.
Training, dry runs and audit trails
To keep marking consistent, CBSE will allow all teachers with OASIS IDs—teacher records on the Board’s portal—to log in and familiarise themselves with OSM. The Board will run multiple dry runs, formal training, a dedicated call centre, and step-by-step instructional videos. A companion notice instructs schools to update data of all Class 11 and 12 teachers on the OASIS portal so logins and one-time passwords reach the correct staff. These measures create a digital audit trail for every action taken during evaluation.
What this means for UAE students and families
For CBSE schools in the UAE, the move matches the country’s tech-forward classroom practices. Students should benefit from quicker, clearer outcomes after the boards. Parents gain added confidence because scripts are allocated and checked under uniform protocols, with system safeguards against arithmetic mistakes. Meanwhile, teachers mark on a monitored platform that tracks progress in real time. Independent reporting echoes the same timeline and goals, noting that Class 12 evaluation goes digital from 2026 while Class 10 remains manual.
In short, OSM brings Class 12 evaluation onto secure screens from 2026, with training, infrastructure and support already mapped out by the Board. Schools now have a clear checklist, and examiners have a defined pathway to practise before the first digital scripts arrive.
