To
The Controller of Examinations
Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)
New Delhi, India

Subject: Concerns Regarding the Implementation of Online Evaluation for Grade XII Board Examinations

Respected Sir/Madam,

We, the undersigned teachers and evaluators associated with the evaluation of the Grade XII Board Examinations conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education, would like to respectfully bring to your attention several serious concerns regarding the newly introduced online evaluation system for the 2026 examination cycle.

The initiative, announced through the CBSE circular dated 9 February 2026, introduced online evaluation with the stated objective of reducing manual errors and minimizing the logistical challenges involved in the physical transportation of answer scripts. While we appreciate the Board’s intention to modernize the evaluation process, the implementation has unfortunately revealed several operational and logistical difficulties.

Following the circular, teachers were asked to attend a webinar on 14 February 2026, after which mock evaluations were conducted between 16 February and 20 February 2026. Due to severe nationwide technical glitches during these sessions, a second nationwide mock evaluation was scheduled on 26 February 2026, conducted zone-wise according to allotted timings.

However, these mock sessions were largely unsuccessful due to multiple technical failures. Evaluators across centres faced difficulties such as:

• Non-receipt or delayed receipt of OTPs required for login
• Inability to access  scanned answer scripts
• Problems with annotation tools required for marking answers
• Failure to submit evaluated scripts
• Long delays in system response, preventing smooth workflow
These persistent issues raise serious concerns regarding the readiness and feasibility of implementing this system for a nationwide evaluation exercise involving thousands of teachers.

In addition to the technical difficulties, we wish to highlight several practical concerns faced by evaluators:

1. Inadequate Preparation Time
The system was introduced barely a week before the commencement of the board examinations. Such a large-scale technological transition requires careful testing and preparation. The sudden rollout raises concerns regarding whether the system had been adequately tested for the scale of evaluators and varying internet facilities across the country.

2. Lack of Actual Convenience for Evaluators
The stated objective of online evaluation was to reduce travel and logistical burdens. However, teachers are still required to report to designated evaluation centres, which are often located far from their schools or residences. They must continue the evaluation process online from these centres, which defeats the very purpose of convenience. If the process is digital, evaluators should ideally be allotted centres in their neighbourhood schools.

3. Absence of Clear Evaluation Schedule
Evaluation appointment letters have been dispatched with the centre location but without clear evaluation dates. This lack of clarity leaves teachers uncertain about their schedules and makes it difficult to plan personal commitments and summer holidays that are otherwise legitimately due to them after the examination cycle.

4. Dual Evaluation Responsibility (Grades X and XII)
Many teachers have been assigned evaluation duties for both Grade X and Grade XII, a practice that has not been followed previously. Teachers are expected to:

• Complete Grade X evaluation
• Continue with Grade XII evaluation
• Then prepare again for Grade X Improvement Examination evaluation in May
This creates an excessive and continuous workload with minimal breaks.

5. Physical and Health-Related Concerns
The evaluation schedule typically runs from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, involving prolonged screen exposure. Evaluators must continuously scroll through scanned scripts, annotate answers, use digital tools repeatedly, and navigate multiple pages—especially for long essay-type responses. This leads to:

• Severe screen fatigue and eye strain
• Postural discomfort and back pain
• Increased cognitive fatigue due to prolonged digital interaction
Such conditions can also impact the accuracy and efficiency of the evaluation process.

In light of the above concerns, we respectfully request the Central Board of Secondary Education to:

1. Reassess the immediate implementation of the online evaluation system.
2. Ensure that the technological platform is fully tested and stable before nationwide deployment.
3. Provide clear evaluation schedules well in advance.
4. Avoid assigning evaluators simultaneous responsibilities for both Grade X and Grade XII.
5. Consider assigning evaluation work in neighbourhood centres if physical attendance is required.
6. Take into account the health and ergonomic implications of prolonged digital evaluation.
We remain committed to maintaining the highest standards of fairness, accuracy, and integrity in the evaluation of board examinations. Our appeal is made in the spirit of constructive feedback so that the evaluation process remains efficient, humane, and practical for all stakeholders.

We sincerely hope the Board will take these concerns into serious consideration and initiate corrective measures.

Thank you for your attention.

Yours faithfully,

(Signature Campaign by Concerned Evaluators)