India’s Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) says it has identified and contained security vulnerabilities in its online grading system after a teenage cybersecurity researcher flagged weaknesses in the platform.
The government-run board said it has been closely monitoring the OnMark portal, which is used by teachers to digitally evaluate scanned copies of students’ answer sheets for one of India’s most important school-leaving examinations.
According to CBSE, the identified vulnerabilities have now been contained, while additional potential weaknesses are being reviewed. Cybersecurity experts from government agencies and engineering institutions have also been deployed to strengthen the system and shift it to a more secure configuration.
The issue surfaced after students reported discrepancies between their physical answer scripts and the digital versions provided during the re-evaluation process, triggering widespread concern and debate on social media. The controversy prompted responses from both CBSE and India’s Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan.
The OnMark portal, introduced in 2026, forms part of a digital evaluation system used for examinations taken by millions of students annually. Around 1.8 million candidates sat the exam this year, with results announced on May 13.
The incident marks the latest challenge for India’s education sector, which recently faced scrutiny following the cancellation of a national medical entrance examination amid allegations of irregularities.
