New CBSE Chief: Mandeep Bhandari Appointed as Chairperson
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has appointed senior IAS officer Mandeep K. Bhandari as its new chairperson. His appointment comes at a time when the board has faced criticism over issues related to its examination and post-result processes.
Bhandari is a 2001-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the AGMUT cadre. The cadre covers several regions, including Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram and the Union Territories, including Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved Bhandari’s appointment. He will take over from Lokhande Prashant Sitaram, who had been holding the CBSE chairperson’s position on a temporary basis.
Bhandari is currently serving as the Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir. His administrative experience is expected to be important as he takes charge of one of the country’s largest school education boards.
The appointment comes after concerns were raised over CBSE’s On-Screen Marking (OSM) system and other examination-related procedures. The system is used to digitally evaluate students’ answer sheets and is intended to make the assessment process more efficient and transparent.
However, complaints have emerged over several aspects of the process. These reportedly included answer-sheet mix-ups, technical problems, payment-related failures and delays in verification and re-evaluation requests.
Post-result procedures are particularly important for students who seek verification of their marks or request re-evaluation. Delays or technical problems during these stages can create additional uncertainty for students, especially those waiting for results for higher education admissions.
The concerns have increased attention on CBSE’s examination administration and digital systems. The board conducts examinations for millions of students every year, making the smooth functioning of its evaluation and result systems important for students, parents and schools.
Bhandari’s appointment therefore comes at a significant time for CBSE. As the new chairperson, he will oversee the board’s examination operations, administrative functions and efforts to address concerns related to its digital processes.
His tenure is expected to bring a renewed focus on improving the efficiency and reliability of CBSE’s examination system. The board will also need to maintain timely communication with students and schools when technical or administrative issues arise.
The appointment marks a new phase for CBSE as it works to strengthen its examination procedures and address concerns raised by students and other stakeholders.