Fees Reduced for Answer Sheet Copy: Officials Dismissed CBSE OSM-Related Issues, Verification & Re-Evaluation

Soon after the CBSE Class 12^th Result 2026 was announced, social media platforms like X, YouTube, Reddit, and Instagram were flooded with reactions from students comparing their scores, discussing evaluation errors, and demanding a fair re-evaluation. However, the Ministry of Education on Sunday dismissed the concerns over the CBSE on-screen marking system raised by thousands of students who thought their marks awarded were not what they were expecting.

OFFICIAL NOTICE FOR POST RESULT DECLARATION FACILITIES FOR STUDENTS OF CLASS XII

During a press conference on May 17, 2026, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has dramatically reduced the fee for obtaining a photocopy of the evaluated answer key to Rs 100 (earlier it was Rs 700), verification of issues observed from Rs 100 to Rs 500 and re-evaluation of the answer now costs just Rs 25 (Before, it was Rs 100 per question). CBSE has also stated that the fee will be refunded in full if a student’s marks go up following the review. This is a significant reduction, making it more accessible for students and families who feel their papers deserve a second look.

What is CBSE OSM, and Why Students have Raised Concerns?

The CBSE OSM is the Online System for Monitoring developed by CBSE to manage and monitor various academic and administrative activities. This year, CBSE’s OSM has implemented and evaluated the answer sheets of class 12 students digitally for fair and transparent results with less paperwork.

After the result, many students have raised concerns around CBSE OSM and created a widespread panic, and controversy erupted over unexpectedly low scores, particularly in physics, chemistry and mathematics. Other specific concerns regarding the OSM system are as follows.

• Massive Discrepancies: Students reported their scores dropped more drastically than their school performance and competitive exam percentiles.
• Evaluation Anomalies: They also reported that the evaluation of the answer sheet had not been evaluated properly, where some stepwise calculations and answers were overlooked.
• System Panic: The transformation from physical checking to digital evaluation of the answer books led to widespread claims of grading inaccuracies and mass frustration online.

Government Responds to Student Concerns Over CBSE Evaluation Process

After the CBSE OSM marks controversy, the Union Education Ministry and the Centre Board of Secondary Education defended the method on Sunday, May 17, 2026. They said that around 98 lakh students’ answer sheets were scanned and converted into PDF copies before evaluation. However, officials found that around 13,000 answer sheets were evaluated manually that could not be read properly after the scanning because students had used very light-coloured ink.

Along with defending the new marking process, they also announced changes to re-evaluation and verification and stated that “we will charge a fee of Rs 100/- instead of Rs 700/- from any student who wishes to view their answer sheets. A separate fee of Rs 100 applies if students wish to have their papers validated. A fee of Rs 25/- instead of Rs 100/- is applied for the re-checking or re-evaluation of the answer to any specific question.”

New CBSE Fee Structure for Verification and Rechecking

Taking cognisance of these concerns raised by students and in the interest of ensuring a student-friendly and responsive mechanism, CBSE has introduced structured post-result facilities with a prescribed procedure. Now, students who wish to avail the post result facilities should not be left behind. CBSE has reduced the applicable fees as per the details below.

NOTE: The fee will be refunded in case of an increase in marks after re-evaluation.

How to Obtain a Photocopy of CBSE Evaluated Answer Sheets?

After the CBSE Class 12^th Result 2026, a photocopy of the scanned answer sheet will be uploaded on the official CBSE website www.cbse.gov.in. Students who wish to apply for a re-evaluation of the answer sheet require a scanned copy. To get a photocopy of the CBSE Class 12th answer sheet, follow the steps below.

• Visit the CBSE verification portal or access the service directly through the official CBSE website.
• Navigate to the “Photocopy of Answer Book” section.
• To access, enter your roll number, 5-digit school number and admit card ID.
• After logging in to the portal, choose the specific subjects for which you wish to receive a scanned copy of your evaluated answer sheets.
• Pay the required fee of Rs 100/- (revised) online using a valid payment method.
• Now, a scanned copy is being uploaded by CBSE to your login account.
• Review the copy and download it for further use.

Step-by-Step Process to Apply for CBSE Verification and Re-Evaluation

After obtaining a scanned copy of the answer sheet, you can apply for a verification and re-evaluation for any errors in the marking or totalling. You need to follow the steps below to complete the process smoothly without any errors. The application submitted within the given timeline will be entertained.

• First of all, you have to visit the official CBSE website, i.e., www.cbse.gov.in.
• Now, click on the “Pariksha Sangam Portal”.
• Open the “Candidate Activities”.
• Click on the “Verification” or “Re-Evaluation”.
• Log in to the portal using exam roll number, school number, and admit card ID.
• Now select the subject and questions for re-evaluation or verification.
• Pay the required fee online.
• Submit the application and wait.
• A confirmation page will open.
• Download or save it for further reference.

Conclusion

This year, 2026, CBSE moved away from the traditional method of checking papers and introduced digital evaluation for class 12^th, the Online Marking System (OSM). Around 98 lakh answer sheets were assessed and automatically calculated totals to reduce the chances of mistakes.

Apart from this, students raised concerns regarding the CBSE’s OSM and claimed that the marks awarded are not correct. The overall pass percentage has also been reduced this year, which indicates a 3.19% drop from 88.39% (2025) to 85.20% (2026). Amid this controversy, the board has revised and significantly reduced the fee structure for post result facilities. Now students can go through the revaluation at a reduced cost for a fair and transparent result. The fee is also refundable if any marks increase after the revaluation.

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