CBSE Class 12 Answer Sheet Portal Faces Backlash Over Technical Glitches and Blurred Scans
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is facing mounting criticism from Class 12 students who have reported a series of technical issues on the newly launched portal for accessing scanned answer sheets. From failed payment transactions to unreadable scanned copies, students have taken to social media to express their frustration, adding another layer of controversy to the ongoing evaluation process.
Portal Performance Defended by Board, Questioned by Users
Late Wednesday evening, CBSE issued a statement asserting that the online portal, designed to facilitate requests for scanned copies of Class 12 answer books, was functioning without any major disruptions. According to the board, within just three hours of the portal going live on May 20, a staggering 1,27,146 applications had been successfully submitted, with students requesting access to a total of 3,87,399 scanned answer sheets.
In its official communication, the board encouraged students to continue using the designated portal for their submissions. However, this reassuring message was quickly met with a wave of complaints from students and social media users who reported experiencing significant difficulties while trying to navigate the system.
Payment Failures and Website Freezes Reported
A number of students have taken to the microblogging platform X (formerly Twitter) to report that their application fees were deducted from their bank accounts, yet the portal displayed a “payment unsuccessful” message. This discrepancy has caused considerable anxiety among students who fear their applications may not have been processed correctly.
Other users have complained that the website was operating at an extremely slow pace, with many unable to progress beyond the “Preview & Confirmation” stage. One frustrated user described the experience as “absolutely pathetic,” stating that they had been trying to complete their payment since morning without any success.
In a particularly alarming case, a student claimed to have made four separate payments of 300 rupees, all of which were rejected by the system. Ironically, a subsequent payment of just 3 rupees was accepted. The student expressed deep concern over the fact that the 1,200 rupees paid earlier had still not been refunded. Another student, Aditya Sharma, mentioned that over 17 hours had passed since making his payment, yet the portal still showed no confirmation of the transaction.
Questions Raised Over Scan Quality and OSM System
Beyond the technical glitches, a significant number of students have also voiced concerns about the quality of the scanned answer sheets themselves. Many have shared screenshots on social media showing what they claim are blurred and illegible copies, questioning how evaluators could have accurately assessed their work under such conditions.
Several students have stated that they are unable to read their own handwriting in the scanned versions, which has led to broader questions about the fairness of the on-screen marking (OSM) system. Parents and students alike are demanding greater transparency in the evaluation process. A growing number of social media users are calling for the complete removal of the OSM system, advocating for manual re-checking of answer sheets and the award of grace marks to students who may have been adversely affected by poor scan quality.
Board Yet to Address Specific Complaints
As of now, CBSE has not issued a separate or detailed response to the specific allegations regarding blurred answer sheets or the purported failures of the OSM evaluation system. The board’s latest public notice reiterates that the portal is operating normally and that applications are being accepted without issue, a stance that appears to be at odds with the experiences being shared by a large number of students online.
